I can't believe i'm the only one to review this cd!!!
10/15/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My dad brought home this cd from work and it was awsome!!! I don't even usually like jazz but the singers that are on this beautiful cd are increadible. This is the only cd in my collection that I can listen to the whole way through and not skip and songs because they are all great!!! Everyone should buy this cd!!!"
Ella, Billie, Sarah and Dinah-The Divas Hit A Grand Slam
Miss DTP | San Antonio, TX USA | 03/04/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Verve Recording Company has outdone it self with this stellar cast line-up. Whomever thought up of this concept should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame under the category of sheer brilliance! This CD features the most popular of the Jazz and Blues Divas.The First Lady of Song--Ella Fitzgerald is up first and boy does she deliver. Her signature songs "A- Tisket, A-Tasket and Mack the Knife" are both done in true Fitzgerald style-Smoothly and Sweetly! Her childlike qualities shine through with each note and the audience just laps her up on "Mack the Knife", which was recorded in Berlin. As the story goes Ella forgot the words to Armstrong's hit but quickly made up her own. Ella, the scat queen, Rules on "Mr. Paganini and the avant-garde "How High The Moon". No one does it better than Ella. Lady Day--Billie Holiday is second on the deck and I just have two words to say "Strange Fruit". Oh my goodness! This is the stand out song of the entire collection. Released in 1939 it told the story of lynching victims in the south, it became a hit despite being banned from many radio stations at the time. The visuals of this song might be to strong for some as she wails, "Black bodies swinging on southern trees". Can you picture it? Amazing.The Divine One-Sarah Vaughn is up third, but never fear for Vaughn's voice is pure purrrfection! Say Meeooww everyone. "Lullaby of Birdland" gets the nod for delivery. This tune is so unusual but it takes the genius of Sarah to pull this one off. "Misty" is Sarah's signature song, even Ella "The Great" Fitzgerald's version pales in comparison.The Queen of Blues-Dinah Washington rounds out the pack and hits the Grand Slam. I did not know enough about this Diva until I purchased this CD. Her rich saucy southern accented-take no prisoners voice-will bring you to your knees. "This Bitter Earth" is beautifully done. Dinah bleeds on this track "What good is love that no one shares". The rawness and sadness of it all keeps you wanting more. "Unforgettable" is equally as good as Nat "King" Cole's version-if not better. "Mad About The Boy" was used as a Levi's Jeans commercial in Britian. To round it all off is the Grammy Award winning song "What a Diff'rence a Day Made". Listen to Dinah growl-Lawwwd What a Diff'rence a Day Made-- it's simply stunning!"