Jazz / Vocal, Bop, Standards, Vocal Jazz
Carol Sloane - Vocals
Dan Morgenstern Text, Liner Notes
Frank Wess Flute, Sax (Tenor)
Fred Miller Engineer
George Mraz Bass
Jimmy Rowles Arranger, Piano, Producer
Joe La Barbera Drums
Norris Turney Sax (Alto)
Wendell Echols Production Coordination
Originally released by Progressive, this Carol Sloane album is quite definitive. After 15 years of neglect, the appealing jazz singer began to emerge on records again in 1977. On her effort, Sloane performs ten superior songs, which range from swing standards such as "Cheek to Cheek" and "Prelude to a Kiss" to lesser-known numbers such as a pair of Johnny Mercer-Jimmy Rowles collaborations ("Morning Star" and "Frasier the Sensuous Lion"), Norris Turney's "Checkered Hat" and "An Older Man Is Like an Elegant Wine." The singer is ably assisted by pianist Rowles (who also arranged the tunes), tenor saxophonist Frank Wess, altoist Norris Turney (who guests on his composition), bassist George Mraz and drummer Joe LaBarbera. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Carol Sloane
Active Decades: '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s
Born: 1937 in Providence, RI
Genre: Vocal
Styles: Bop, Standards, Vocal Jazz
Singer Carol Sloane started singing professionally when she was 14 and at 18 she toured Germany in a musical comedy. She was with the Les and Larry Elgart orchestra during 1958-1960 and, after appearing at a jazz festival in 1960, she was heard by Jon Hendricks who later sent for her to sub for Annie Ross with Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. Sloane made a big impression at the 1961 Newport Jazz Festival and soon cut two records for Columbia. Unfortunately, her career never got going and, except for a live set from 1964 released on Honey Dew, Sloane would not record again until 1977, working as a secretary in North Carolina and singing just now and then locally.
However, in the mid-'70s she became more active again, caught on in Japan (where she began to record frequently), and her career finally got on more solid footing. Sloane's releases for Audiophile, Choice, Progressive, Contemporary, and later Concord feature a mature bop-based singer with a sound of her own.
--- Scott Yanow, All Music Guide |
