Vocal / Swing; Standards; Vocal Jazz
Recorded: Jun 15-22, 1971
This CD reissues one of the stranger jazz recordings. Pianist Dick Hyman wrote the music for a dozen sonnets by William Shakespeare, songs that had appeared in some of Shakespeare's comedies. Classical baritonist Earl Wrightson originally recorded the pieces, and a few years later, Maxine Sullivan made this jazz version for Monmouth-Evergreen. Her performances (with Hyman, trumpeter Rusty Dedrick, guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, bassist Milt Hinton and drummer Don Lamond) were rather brief, so for the Audiophile reissue, Hyman recorded additional solo renditions of most of the selections. Overall, Sullivan's vocals get a bit hard to take, due to the antiquated lyrics (although her voice sounds fine), and none of Hyman's melodies are all that memorable, even though a couple of his later solos display some heat. A historical curiosity, but little more.
---Scott Yanow, allmusic
Maxine Sullivan - Vocals
Dick Hyman - Piano, Arranger, Text, Harpsichord, Producer
Bucky Pizzarelli - Guitar
Don Lamond - Drums
Milt Hinton - Bass
Lyle "Rusty" Dedrick - Trumpet, Flugelhorn |
