Honi Gordon

HONI GORDON - SINGS (1962)

1. Strollin'    
2. Ill Wind (You're Blowing Me No Good)    
3. My Kokomo    
4. Why Try To Change Me Now    
5. Cupid    
6. Walkin' (Out The Door)    
7. Why
8. Love Affair    
9. Lament Of The Lonely

Honi Gordon (vocals)
Wally Richardson (guitar)
Ken McIntyre (flute, alto saxophone)
Jaki Byard (piano)
George Duvivier (Bass)
Ed Shaughnessy (drums)

Honi Gordon’s obscurity (this was her only recording as a solo singer) is a mystery for she displays a great deal of talent on this date. Her father George Gordon wrote some of the tricky lyrics (which are phrased like a horn) and Honi (who is given stimulating support by pianist Jaki Byard, Ken McIntyre on flute and alto, guitarist Wally Richardson, bassist George Duvivier and drummer Ed Shaughnessy) is up to the job. Her version of Charles Mingus’s “Strollin’” is definitive, she finds something new to say on “Ill Wind” and really digs into the originals. This is bop-based jazz singing at its best.
~ Scott Yanow