Search - Chris Connor :: Chris in Person/Chris Connor Sings George Gershwin

Chris at the top of her game

Jim Andrews | Chicago, Illinois USA | 12/31/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Chris Connor's amazing live album on Atlantic proved a gigantic seller. Atlantic keep replacing pressing orders with its manufacturer, M-G-M Records, in a frantic attempt to keep up with the sales. It's a splendidly recorded venture of Chris at the very top of her game, not to mention looking delicious. There's an electricity and immediacy about this album which remains fascinating. But why pair this with random tracks from the 2-LP Gershwin songbook via a discount version? Especially when the brilliant LP "Free Spirits" has yet to make it to CD and Chris' finest project, "Ballads of the Sad Cafe" with the Basie band, is only available paired with a non-Chris album. I will never understand this kind of record company dumbidity. It must be mentioned that Chris in person today is every bit as good as Chris in person then but she's changed quite a bit as a singer since then--she's grown, matured and rounded the edges. If you have the opportunity to see her, don't miss out. She is an absolutely magnetic performer. And a warm lady much beloved by the musicians who have worked with her."