ROSEMARY CLOONEY & DUKE ELLINGTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA - Blue Rose (1956-2008) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Rosemary Clooney may have seemed to be a surprising choice to be featured with Duke Ellington & His Orchestra, but this collaboration is extremely successful in spite of the fact that Clooney was unable to join the band in the studio due to complications of a very difficult pregnancy. The solution was for the band to record the music (after Billy Strayhorn made the first of several trips to Los Angeles to consult with her). The results are stunning and not in the least bit canned, due to the professionalism of all parties involved and a stellar engineering of the separately recorded tracks. Clooney swings throughout "Me and You" and "It Don't Mean a Thing" without excess, her wordless vocal on "Blue Rose," and a captivating "Mood Indigo" are among the many highlights. The sound on this Legacy series reissue is greatly improved over the earlier Mobile Fidelity CD, plus there are two tracks added, the obscure but appealing "If You Were in My Place (What Would You Do?)" and "Just a-Sittin' and a-Rockin'," that were only issued as a single and omitted from the original release. It's a pity that the collaboration of Rosemary Clooney and Duke Ellington was only a one-shot deal, as she easily ranks as one of the greatest vocalists to appear on record with the maestro. by Ken Dryden 
Tracklist:
1    Hey Baby 3:53
Soloist, Baritone Saxophone – Harry Carney
Written-By – D. Ellington
2    Sophisticated Lady 2:57
Written-By – D. Ellington, I. Mills, M. Parish
3    Me And You 2:28
Soloist, Trumpet – Ray Nance
Written-By – D. Ellington
4    Passion Flower 4:33
Soloist, Reeds – Johnny Hodges
Written-By – B. Strayhorn
5    I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart 2:37
Written-By – D. Ellington, H. Nemo, I. Mills, J. Redmond
6    It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) 2:48
Soloist, Reeds – Harry Carney, Johnny Hodges
Soloist, Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Hamilton
Soloist, Trumpet – Clark Terry
Written-By – D. Ellington, I. Mills
7    Grievin' 4:10
Soloist, Reeds – Harry Carney, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves
Soloist, Trumpet – "Cat" Anderson
Written-By – B. Strayhorn, D. Ellington
8    Blue Rose 2:21
Written-By – D. Ellington
9    I'm Checkin' Out, Goombye 3:09
Soloist, Clarinet – Jimmy Hamilton
Soloist, Trumpet – Ray Nance
Written-By – B. Strayhorn, D. Ellington
10    I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) 3:07
Written-By – D. Ellington, P.F. Webster
11    Mood Indigo 6:28
Bass Clarinet – Harry Carney
Soloist, Trumpet – Willie Cook
Written-By – A. Bigard, D. Ellington, I. Mills
- Bonus Tracks -
12    If You Were In My Place (What Would You Do?) 3:01
Soloist, Piano – Billy Strayhorn
Soloist, Trumpet – Clark Terry
Written-By – D. Ellington, H. Nemo, I. Mills
13    Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin' 2:40
Soloist, Trumpet – Clark Terry
Written-By – B. Strayhorn, D. Ellington, L. Gaines
Credits:
Arranged By – Billy Strayhorn
Arranged By, Piano – Duke Ellington
Double Bass [Bass] – Jimmy Woode
Drums – Sam Woodyard
Recording Supervisor [Rosemary Clooney Vocals] – Billy Strayhorn
Reeds – Harry Carney, Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Russell Procope
Trombone – Britt Woodman, John Sanders, Quentin Jackson
Trumpet – "Cat" Anderson, Clark Terry, Ray Nance, Willie Cook
Vocals – Rosemary Clooney

TERI THORNTON - Devil May Care (1961-1999) RM / APE (image+.cue), lossless

This is the first (of three) long out of print recordings by Teri Thornton, finally available to the general public. It would not be a stretch to say she is perhaps the most talented, distinctive, clean, out-of-sight singer listeners have never heard....until now. Thornton's powerful, almost chilling voice compares favorably to the pristine tones and vibrato of Sarah Vaughan, the blues sassiness of Dinah Washington, and some of the more soulful refrains of Abbey Lincoln. Simply put, you have to hear her once to believe her. Whether on doleful ballads or raucous swingers, Thornton is totally confident and in control -- of her emotions and yours. From the best version of the Bob Dorough-written title track you are likely to hear, to the regretful ballad "My Old Flame" or the ultimate heart-melter "Left Alone," to an interesting arrangement on a pleading "What's Your Story, Morning Glory?," Thornton charges through the bar lines. Check her forcefulness on "Dancing in the Dark" and "I Feel a Song Coming On." Sometimes she purposefully staggers behind measures to grand effect. Every track is a showstopper, thanks to her uniquely soulful, drama-laden approach. Potent, unobtrusive horn charts feature legends like trumpeter Clark Terry, trombonist Britt Woodman, and saxophonists Earle Warren and Seldon Powell. The rhythm section of guitarist Freddie Green (half the tracks, Sam Herman on the others), pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Sam Jones, and drummer Jimmy Cobb can do no wrong. Arranger par excellence Norman Simmons provided the perfect charts. This is an important document of a truly great jazz singer, and is essential in the collection of every serious aficionado. The only one regret is that it can't be given several handfuls of. by Michael G. Nastos  
Tracklist:
1 Lullaby of the Leaves 2:48
Bernice Petkere / Joe Young 
2 Devil May Care 2:47
Bob Dorough 
3 Detour Ahead 3:10
Lou Carter / Herb Ellis / John Freigo / Johnny Frigo 
4 The Song Is You 2:33
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern 
5 My Old Flame 3:29
Sam Coslow / Arthur Johnston 
6 What's Your Story, Morning Glory? 3:47
Jack Lawrence / Paul Francis Webster / Mary Lou Williams 
7 Dancing in the Dark 2:31
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz 
8 Left Alone 3:27
Billie Holiday / Mal Waldron 
9 Blue Champagne 3:11
Jim Eaton / Frank Ryerson / Grady Watts 
10 I Feel a Song Coming On 2:42
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh / George Oppenheimer 
11 What's New? 4:11
Johnny Burke / Bob Haggart 
12 Blue Skies 2:33
Irving Berlin 
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Earl Warren
Arranged By, Conductor – Norman Simmons
Bass – Sam Jones
Drums – Jimmy Cobb
Guitar – Freddie Green, Sam Herman
Piano – Wynton Kelly
Producer – Orrin Keepnews
Tenor Saxophone – Seldon Powell
Trombone – Britt Woodman
Trumpet – Clark Terry
Vocals – Teri Thornton