Etta Jones (2)

ETTA JONES - SINGS LADY DAY (2003)

 

1 That Old Devil Called Love
2 All of Me
3 But Beautiful
4 You've Changed
5 I Cried for You
6 Fine and Mellow
7 God Bless the Child
8 Them There Eyes
9 You Better Go Now

Review by Scott Yanow:

Etta Jones' last 20 years found her recording one consistently soulful jazz album after another, usually with the close partnership of tenor-saxophonist Houston Person. For what would be her final recording, she pays tribute to Billie Holiday with renditions of nine standards. Except during the last part of "Fine and Mellow" when she does a remarkable imitation of Lady Day, Etta Jones sings in her usual bluesy style, staying as individual as always. She makes such songs as "All of Me," "I Cried for You" and "Them There Eyes" sound fresh and relevant. The singer passed away on the day that Sings Lady Day was officially released and she sounds in surprisingly good form throughout this set, finishing off her career on top.

ETTA JONES - LOVE SHOUT (1963)

1. Love Walked In
2. It's Magic
3. Like Someone In Love
4. The Gal From Joe's
5. Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
6. If I Loved You
7. There Are Such Things
8. Someday My Prince Will Come
9. Old Folks
10. Some Enchanted Evening

An excellent singer who is always worth hearing, Etta Jones grew up in New York and at 16, toured with Buddy Johnson. She debuted on record with Barney Bigard's pickup band (1944) for Black & White, singing four Leonard Feather songs, three of which (including "Evil Gal Blues") were hits for Dinah Washington. She recorded other songs during 1946-1947 for RCA and worked with Earl Hines (1949-1952). Jones' version of "Don't Go to Strangers" (1960) was a hit and she made many albums for Prestige during 1960-1965. Jones toured Japan with Art Blakey (1970), but was largely off record during 1966-1975. However, starting in 1976, Etta Jones (an appealing interpreter of standards, ballads, and blues) began recording regularly for Muse, often with the fine tenor saxophonist Houston Person. She died from complications of cancer on October 16, 2001, the day her last album, Etta Jones Sings Lady Day, was released. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide