Chris Connor - Jazz Date With Chris Connor Chris Craft (24 tracks) +Album Reviews

Some great stuff, some dodgy stuff--we'll call it a draw

N. Dorward | Toronto, ON Canada | 03/20/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is an intruiging pair of Connor dates from the 1950s: the CD is filled to the brim with music (over 70 minutes' worth) & that's perhaps a good thing, as there's a few duds here along with the gold. The best single track is probably the opener, "Moon Ray", which deploys the resources of the band brilliantly & features spine-tingling singing. Other highlights are "Driftwood" and "Everything I've Got". Connor's singing is beautiful and swinging, and the band is terrific--Al Cohn & Lucky Thompson on sax on one date, Mundell Lowe on guitar on the other. -- On the other hand, there is some pretty intrusive percussion on the first date, notably on a version of "Just Squeeze Me" where the bongos and whatnot simply sound ludicrous. Some of the arrangements are a bit dated or precious too, as on "Fancy Free" or "Be a Clown". And perhaps "Johnny One Note" is an acquired taste too. Anyway, newcomers to Connor should head straight to the Gershwin two-disc set; those already introduced to her will want this disc for its best performances."

Excellent album

George Fabian | Mountainside, USA | 05/18/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album is a real bargain as it contains 2 LP's :A jazz date with Chris Connor and Chris Craft with a playing time of 78 minutes. Connor's "silky" raspiness is on display with marvelous effect and she is backed by superb jazz musicians. Her interplay with them and her sense of rhythm and timing is remarkable. This set is a real winner all the way."

Classic Chris

George Fabian | 07/07/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

""A Jazz Date" was Chris' third album for Atlantic, delayed repeatedly while her 2-LP Gershwin set was first released, then her hit-single inspired "I Miss You So" set. "Jazz Date" was followed shortly by "Chris Craft." Besides their wonderful covers, the albums are very different--"Jazz Date" more brassy and crisp, "Chris Craft" more mellow and dreamy. The song selections are impeccable and Chris' delivery intriguing, endlessly listenable and 40 years after the fact still contemporary. The best musicians back her in two topnotch albums sounding better than ever on C.D."

Good value for the money, competent performances...

William E. Adams | Midland, Texas USA | 07/24/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This 1994 CD combines two Conner LP's released originally in 1958, although "A Jazz Date" was actually recorded at the end of 1956. I never owned anything by Chris before getting this last week. Back in the '50's, when I first heard of her, she was in competition with Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Peggy Lee, Julie London, June Christy, Anita O'Day and several other distaff jazz vocalists. High-quality company, and my budget didn't stretch enough to buy her releases. I'm glad I have this one now. It offers 78 minutes of pretty typical '50's jazz. Each of the two LP's reproduced here has a different ensemble accompanying Chris, but I felt both groups were great. In fact, the weak moments here come from the occasional oddly sung word by the star, and the fact that Chris was known for releasing songs which were good, but not quite in the "classic" vein. According to the booklet, which reproduces the original albums' liner notes, Chris was known for phrasing "behind the beat" and somehow catching up in the end. This is interesting to hear, and Connor's voice is pleasant, but the CD does not really jump out at you and compel repeated listening, although I have indeed listened repeatedly for a few days in order to review it. I like the way she does "It's a Most Unusual Day" and "It Only Happens When I Dance With You" on the "Jazz Date" LP. For the later "Chris Craft" release, (a word-play referring to the famous pleasure boat company of the era) I enjoy "The Night We Called It a Day" the best. But the 78 minutes, while perhaps uneven, are certainly not wasted. Helping Chris are Ralph Sharon (Tony Bennett's long-time musical director) on piano and arranging "A Jazz Date" and Mundell Lowe on guitar during the "Chris Craft" dates. A combined 16 other fine studio players appear on various tunes."

Superb little known vocalist

H. E. King | Lexington Virginia | 06/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This excellent singer of both Jazz and Ballads is almost unknown today, certainly she goes unrecognized. Not unlike June Christie in style, and of the same years recorded. I Have bought all of the other offerrings from Amazon of her albums, and will use this same review for each in any requested review."

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