Mary Ann McCall (2)

MARY ANN McCALL - DETOUR TO THE MOON (1958)

Detour Ahead
I Wished on the Moon
Moon Was Yellow
Oh, You Crazy Moon
Moonlight Becomes You
Moonglow
Shine on Harvest Moon
Blue Moon
East of the Sun (West of the Moon)
No Moon at All
It's Only a Paper Moon
Moon Country

Strongly influenced by Billy Holiday and one of the better big band "girl" singers, Mary Ann McCall worked with outfits led by Charlie Barnet, Tommy Dorsey, Charlie Ventura, and Woody Herman. In 1950, the year she left Herman, she was voted best singer by several jazz magazines including DownBeat. At this stage of her career, her style took a decided turn toward jazz as she began singing with more of the top jazz performers of the day, including her husband, tenor saxophonist Al Cohn. Detour to the Moon captures McCall at her artistic peak. Performing in two different musical settings created by Teddy Charles, the musical director for the session, she works through a program of twelve tunes, all but one with the word "moon" in it. For six of the album's tracks the accompaniment was principally string - - cello, viola, bass and guitar - - along with Charles on vibes. This musical arrangement is especially compelling on "Moonlight Becomes You" and the title tune, "Detour Ahead." The violist is Walter Trampler perhaps the leading performer on that instrument in the world at that particular time. For the other configuration, the backing was provided by a more traditional instrumental format, including Charles on vibes, Jimmy Raney on guitar, Mal Waldron on piano and Oscar Pettiford on bass. This less somber mix goes well with such livelier tracks as "Shine on Harvest Moon" and "East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)."

Although McCall sang well into the 1970's, she continued to be plagued with a significant addiction to drugs. Nonetheless, during the 1950's she was among the top white female vocalists along with Chris Connor, June Christy and Anita O'Day. It's criminal that this LP and her other major disc, Easy Living, where she's backed by a band headed by Ernie Wilkens, have not been transferred to CD. ~ Dave Nathan, All Music Guide

MARY ANN McCALL - EASY LIVING (1957)

1. Shake Down the Stars
2. You Can Depend on Me
3. Easy Living
4. Mean to Me
5. In My Solitude
6. I Thought About You
7. Deep Purple
8. Deed I Do
9. It's You or No One
10. It's Been So Long
11. Something I Dreamed Last Night
12. It Must Be True

Mary Ann McCall's lone Regent session captures the singer at her most potent. Created in collaboration with arranger Ernie Wilkins and a superlative backing band including Zoot Sims, Seldon Powell, and Kenny Clarke, Easy Living is painted in both bright pastels and haunting grays, capturing the romantic spectrum in toto. McCall is the rare singer who tackles upbeat love songs and melancholy ballads with equal aplomb. Her dusky voice communicates a strength and intelligence that lend gravitas and spark to even the slightest, most familiar lyrics. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide