Annie Ross

 

“Always swinging, Miss Ross avoids obvious gimmicks and inappropriate bopping, in spite of a working range and flexibility that would make such lapses tempting to a less mature singer. Her vocal command and obvious delight with good song material give to these performances the kind of easy going authority that characterized Frank Sinatra’s singing.” - (RICHARD B. HADLOCK)

All of the music from the sessions that reunited Annie Ross and Gerry Mulligan, also including Chet Baker and Art Farmer. As a bonus, the complete 10-inch Annie Ross album Annie by Candlelight and a version of “Skylark” previously issued as a single.

Includes 16-page booklet

Born in Mitcham, Surrey, England, on July 25, 1930 (and currently 78- years old), Annie Ross is one of the early practitioners of a singing style known as vocalese, which involves the setting of original lyrics to an instrumental jazz solo. One of her most acclaimed albums as a soloist is Annie Ross Sings a Song with Mulligan, reissued here in its entirety, and featuring the expert backing of Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker and Art Farmer. All of the music recorded on these two sessions is presented here, including some tunes that were issued separately or on compilations and not on the original albums. The alternate versions of “My Old Flame” and “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Your Face” are not to be confused with “alternate takes”, for on the first ones heard here Art Farmer is on trumpet (recorded on the 1958 session, these were the versions issued on the original album), while on the second ones it is Chet Baker who is featured on the instrument (taped in 1957). These were Ross’ only recordings ever with either Mulligan, Baker or Farmer.

ANNIE ROSS, vocals
GERRY MULLIGAN, baritone sax
ART FARMER, trumpet (on tracks 1-6)
CHET BAKER, trumpet (on tracks 7-16)
BILL CROW, bass (on tracks 1-6)
HENRY GRIMES, bass (on tracks 7-16)
DAVE BAILEY, drums
New York, September 25, 1958
December 11 & 17, 1957 (7-16).

*BONUS TRACKS: 17-24: ANNIE BY CANDLELIGHT

Annie Ross (vcl), Bob Burns (cl),Tony Crombie (p),
Roy Plummer (b), Lennie Rush (d).
London, August 27, 1956.
25: Same personnel and location, August 28, 1956.

Tracks:

01 I FEEL PRETTY 3:34
02 I’VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO YOUR FACE 3:01
03 ALL OF YOU 2:20
04 GIVE ME THE SIMPLE LIFE 3:36
05 THIS IS ALWAYS 4:22
06 MY OLD FLAME 3:52
07 THIS TIME THE DREAM’S ON ME 3:25
08 LET THERE BE LOVE 3:45
09 BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA 3:42
10 HOW ABOUT YOU? 2:53
11 I GUESS I’LL HAVE TO CHANGE MY PLAN 2:26
12 THIS IS ALWAYS (alt. version) 4:01
13 IT DON’T MEAN A THING 2:11
14 THE LADY’S INLOVE WITH YOU 2:27
15 YOU TURNED THE TABLES ON ME 3:27
16 I’VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO YOUR FACE (alt. version) 3:06
17 GYPSY IN MY SOUL 2:41*
18 I LOVE PARIS 2:19*
19 I DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT YOU 3:22*
20 THE LADY’S IN LOVE WITH YOU 2:15*
21 ‘T AIN’T WHAT YOU DO 2:46*
22 DON’T LET THE SUNCATCH YOU CRYING 4:52*
23 BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA 2:27*
24 DON’T WORRY ABOUT ME 2:19*
25 SKYLARK 2:57*

TOTAL TIME: 78:17