Thelma Gracen LP 1956 1st Press Very Rare Wing MGW-60005 Georgie Auld Lou Levy
$
100
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Description
Thelma Gracen LP 1956 1st Press Very Rare Wing MGW-60005 Georgie Auld, Lou Levy, Barney Kessel Archival Sleeve This is a perfect debut and it is a shame we never got another release ..... Fantastic
Thelma Gracen was an US Jazz singer, born on January 6, 1922 in Chicago, USA, died on October 24, 1994.
She started to sing in the age of 15 and performed with bands leaded by such prominent artists as Shep Fields and Jimmy Dorsey.
She recorded just one LP in 1955, backed by Georgie Auld, Quen Anderson, Lou Levy, Barney Kessel, Joe Comfort and Sid Bulkin
Thelma Gracen's lone EmArcy date boasts a warm, nocturnal atmosphere that belies the precision and complexity of its performances. Guitarist Barney Kessel, tenorist Georgie Auld, and pianist Lou Levy are all in top form, delivering graceful, almost effortless support that encircles Gracen's vocals like a kind of halo effect. Her cool, sophisticated interpretations of chestnuts like "I'll Remember April" and "Night and Day" immediately bring to mind the likes of Anita O'Day and Chris Connor, but Gracen possesses a style and intelligence all her own -- it's a shame her discography is so slim.
Thelma’s self-titled LP features her with sterling backing from the likes of Georgie Auld, Barney Kessel and Lou Levy. Phrasing cleanly on I’ll Never Be The Same and dipping down to a lower register Thelma hits the good notes and the blue notes as Kessel and the rhythm section glide along in the background. She certainly demonstrates that subtle but almost indescribable difference between a true jazz singer and a good pop songstress. She swings easily too, in particular on tracks like Tea For Two and that old favourite of jazzers ancient and modern, Out Of Nowhere. Lou Levy shines on this one. Auld and Quentin Anderson’s trombone add piquant jazz flavourings.
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