Should I give her a listen?

BIG yay

She & Billie Holiday were buddies back in the day, Ms.McRae wrote the standard Dream Of Life esp for Lady Day to sing.

The critics gave her & Abbey Lincoln for drawing too much of an inspiration from Lady, but I think they had their OWN style, I think folks who slammed them as Billie Holiday knock-offs are too lazy to listen and figure out the distinction.



And an older Carmen...

Thanks!

Yes, an essential.(IMHO)

Ms. MacRae never received the accolades she deserved. At the beginning of the career you could hear Holiday's influences but by the end of late 50's into the 60's MacRae carved out a sound all of her own. It's not easy to sing behind the beat and she was one of the best. Though' her range may not have been of her friend Holiday, Fitzgerald or Vaughan, she was a master of interpreting a lyric. Which is why she's one of the few singers that dared to touch Thelonious Monks music. One of the things I liked about her, she never stopped playing the bar/lounge clubs. After 70's it was difficult to book Fitzgerald and Vaughan in those types of venues, she enjoy singing in those intimate settings.

I would recommend this 3 albums to start off with.... if they can be
found.


=====


1. Bittersweet

2. Sings Lover Man and Other Billie Holiday Classics

3. Complete Ralph Burns Sessions

I've been trying to upload a lot of my jazz stuff on YouTube, but they're being blocked. When I return home I'll try to upload some of her music I already have ready to go.
[Edited 2/13/10 15:22pm]