Search - Carmen McRae :: The Best of Carmen McRae: 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection

Carmen McRae--an excellent chanteuse who never truly got the

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 02/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"People do not remember Carmen McRae the way she deserves to be remembered. When Carmen sang the beauty of her voice held your attention; and she could lead her audiences wherever she wanted them to go. You can imagine my surprise and disappointment when I saw the low Amazon sales rank of this CD!



The CD starts off marvelously with "Something To Live For." This track begins with its beautiful arrangement for piano and Carmen sings this passionately! The quality of the sound is excellent; you would swear that Carmen is standing right next to you as you listen to this disc. "Good Morning Heartache" follows the opening number and Carmen sings this in a lower pitched voice; this demonstrates that she possessed a strong vocal range. The musical arrangement is beautiful and Carmen's voice imparts to her audience a degree of intimacy few vocalists could ever manage.



"Happy To Make Your Acquaintance" stands out on this CD. Carmen performs a playful, very happy duet with the great Sammy Davis, Jr. Carmen and Sammy harmonize to perfection and the humorous lyrics make this an instant classic. The catchy melody also attracts your attention from the very start; "Happy To Make Your Acquaintance" is one of the strongest tracks on this album. Excellent!



Another song worthy of special mention on this CD is "Oh Yes, I Remember Clifford." This song honors the memory of Clifford Brown, a great trumpeter who died all too young in a car crash. The melody and Carmen's voice lilt gently and this song is a fitting tribute to this gentleman.



Other great songs on this CD include a sensuous rendition of "My Funny Valentine" with a great arrangement for the piano; "Exactly Like You" which explores Carmen's desire to spend time with her perfect mate and the very romantic "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square" which Carmen sings without a single superfluous note.



The CD ends with the classic "Ain't Misbehavin'" written by Harry Brooks, Andy Razof and Thomas Waller. This awesome song receives a very special romantic treatment with a slower than usual tempo as Carmen croons flawlessly.



The liner notes include magnificent black and white photos of Carmen and the song credits are listed nicely. David Ritz contributes a fine essay about Carmen's career based in part on an interview he had with Carmen in 1976.



Carmen McRae will always be remembered for her magnificent contributions to the arts. Carmen deserves more recognition than she ever received. Hopefully more people will listen to this CD and other CDs by Carmen McRae to discover her limitless talents.

"

GREAT

James Baldwin III | Greenwich, CT | 02/08/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been trying to educate myself and become a more appreciative listener of vocal jazz. I took a listening course last year and Carmen was my favorite artist that we studied. I find her soulful and real. She isn't just making noise or over singing."