Search - Dinah Washington :: Ultimate Dinah Washington

Fine Dinah Washington album--BRAVO, DINAH !!!

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 06/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Ultimate Dinah Washington is a wonderful selection of songs by Dinah that were hand picked by Abbey Lincoln. It's a crime that Dinah Washington is so largely forgotten these days; but hopefully with sales of her CDs like this one things will change. The quality of the sound couldn't be better and the artwork is very nice as well.



The CD starts with Dinah Washington singing a great crossover hit for her, "What A Diff'rence A Day Made." "What A Diff'rence A Day Made" showcases Dinah's excellent diction and sensitivity when it came to singing a love song. "What A Diff'rence A Day Made" was one of Dinah's biggest hits in the later years of her career and I could never tire of hearing Dinah sing this tune. "Cry Me A River" is an excellent tune that Dinah aces easily; and this is grand. Dinah sings this with all her heart and soul; and the guitar along with the strings makes the musical accompaniment shine. Dinah sings this with a backup chorus but she didn't really need it; at the time, however, they often used backup choirs to help the song along.



"I Wanna Be Loved" is another beautiful hit from the immortal Dinah Washington; and she delivers this so very well. "I Wanna Be Loved" is a charming love song about a woman who wants romantic time alone with her one true love. "I Wanna Be Loved" is indeed a major highlight of this album--I love it!



"Since I Fell For You" has an elegant piano arrangement; and Dinah sings this wonderfully. She's truly front and center--right where she belongs! Dinah sings this love song with great sensitivity and I really like "Since I Fell For You." "I'm A Fool To Want You" is a torch song that Billie Holiday loved to sing; and when Dinah Washington sings this she truly makes her own mark on this ballad with her remarkable sense of timing and intonation. "I'm A Fool To Want You" is another major highlight of this album.



"Blue Gardenia" is a beautiful ballad with a fine musical arrangement that wisely never drowns out Dinah. Dinah performs this with style and grace--not to mention heart and soul. Dinah really makes me feel that she's singing this song just to me--and that's a very special talent! "Mixed Emotions" is equally bright and the backup singers enhance the natural beauty of this number. In addition, Dinah makes good on "You Don't Know What Love Is." Wowzer!



"Unforgettable" is Dinah's rendition of this famous ballad that Nat King Cole often sang; and the CD ends well with Dinah Washington singing "This Bitter Earth." "This Bitter Earth" strikes me with its beauty and it will leave you wanting more.



Dinah Washington did so much during her all too short stay with us; and we are better off for Dinah sharing her talents with us. This is a wonderful Dinah Washington CD especially for newcomers who wouldn't yet have these numbers in their collections.

"

Dinah washington?the ultimate jazz diva.

Yiannis Psaroudis | soho, ny | 10/27/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"dinah washington, so beautiful and talented, is often forgotten in conversations that include her contemporaries, billie holiday, ella fitzgerald and sarah vaughn. that is truly a painful oversite, given her poise and ability. verve records' "ultimate:" series does an exceptional job at showcasing all the traits that make dinah washington a true diva of jazz. by allowing fan and fellow jazz great, abbey lincoln, to select the tunes that would be featured on this collection, listeners are treated to several standards and a handful of less re-published songs. washington's deliver on such songs as "cry me a river" and "i wanna be loved" is at the same time regal and accessible. the song "blue gardenias" will literally transport listeners to 1955 and if "you don't know what love is" does not bring tears to your eyes, you should have you heart checked for petrification."

By far the best Dinah album I own!

Michael Kierod | Downtown Philadelphia | 06/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I like the "Ultimate" jazz series from Verve Records. I like this excellent Dinah Washington album, with such hits chronicled in it, such as "What A Difference A Day Makes" and "I Won't Crie Anymore." I like it, and I am gratefull to right a review for Amazon.com!"