Brewer,Teresa With Count Basie & Thad Jones CD

Digitally remastered two-fer containing a pair of albums by the vocalist on one disc. Teresa Brewer was a child star who became one of the biggest pop singers of the 1950s, moving into jazz in the early 70s. These two albums, which hooked her up with the two greatest band leaders: Count Basie and Duke Ellington, are a pleasant surprise and show her to be a natural in this company. An album of songs by the great blues stylist Bessie Smith was chosen for the album with Count Basie. Brewer puts her own stamp on these classics, which never seems forced and never tries to do a crude impersonation of the originals. Basie, playing better than ever, and his band prove to be the perfect foil for what is a very satisfying album. Perhaps the greatest compliment paid to it was that it prompted Duke Ellington to ask when he would be making an album with the singer. Ellington was nearing the end of his 60-year career - his date with Brewer proved to be his final studio recording - and he brings all his experience to the session. In a mixture of line-ups they tackle many of the great songs associated with his band through the years, an exhilarating and joyous set ranging from the thrilling title track to a subdued 'Mood Indigo'. It was a final triumph for this great musician, and a wonderful step forward for the singer.

1. Trombone Cholly 2. Gulf Coast Blues 3. Down Hearted Blues 4. Baby Won't You Please Come Home 5. St. Louis Blues 6. After You've Gone 7. I Ain't Got Nobody 8. Gimme a Pigfoot 9. I Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle 10. It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing 11. I Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues 12. Satin Doll 13. Mood Indigo 14. Don't Get Around Much Anymore 15. I'm Beginning to See the Light 16. I've Got to Be a Rug Cutter (Vocal Bunny Briggs) 17. I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good 18. Tulip or Turnip (Vocal Bunny Briggs) 19. It's Kinda Lonesome Out Tonight 20. Poco Mucho