Dinah Washington – Back To The Blues (Pure Pleasure)

180-gram vinyl

Remastering by Ray Staff at Air Mastering, Lyndhurst Hall, London

Although she was one of the most powerful and moving of the jazz singers, Dinah Washington suffered more than most from unimaginative and erratic backings. Many of her EmArcy recordings, notably those with Clifford Brown or Clark Terry on trumpet, had outstanding performances, but her collections were compromised by unsuitable accompaniment. This set of 12 blues gives a lop-sided picture in that it doesn’t include any of her ballad performances. However, the basic big band settings allow the power and verve of her singing to come through, and confirm her as the best of the women singers with blues material.

During the 1950s she had been regarded as an R&B performer but arranger and band-leader Fred Norman wrote these fine 1962 jazz settings for her shortly before her death. The material is strong and Washington soars and swings, her voice reaching many of the potent climaxes for which she was so highly regarded. The material runs through much of the traditional repertoire — Big Bill Broonzy, Leroy Carr and Lil Green being represented — and there is a nine-minute “Nobody Knows The Way I Feel This Morning” that is unique in her discography.

Personnel:
Dinah Washington, vocals
Illinois Jacquet, Eddie Chamblee, tenor saxophone
Jack Wilson, Patti Bown, piano
Jimmy Sigler, organ
Everett Barksdale, Billy Butler, guitar
George Duvivier, bass
Jimmy Thomas, Osie Johnson, drums.

Arranged and conducted by Fred Norman
Produced by Henry Glover
Recorded at Bell Sound Studios, New York, March — November 1962

Format : Vinyl Record

1 Lp