#helenmerrill

[projazznet]

Helen Merrill – Dream of You 

Dream of You is a studio album by Helen Merrill, which was arranged and conducted by Gil Evans.

Reception

AllMusic review by Stephen Cook awarded the album 4 stars stating “Even though her collaborations with Clifford Brown and others are great recordings, this one with Gil Evans shows off more of Merrill’s expressive vocal talents, due in no small part to the sympathetic and urbane arrangements.”

Personnel Helen Merrill – vocals Gil Evans – arranger, conductor John LaPorta – clarinet, alto saxophone Jerome Richardson – flute, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone Danny Bank – baritone saxophone Art Farmer, Louis Mucci – trumpet Jimmy Cleveland, Joe Bennett – trombone Hank Jones – piano Janet Putnam – harp Barry Galbraith – guitar Oscar Pettiford – double bass Joe Morello – drums

[projazznet]

Helen Merrill – Helen Merrill with Strings

Helen Merrill with Strings is the second album by Helen Merrill, featuring the singer fronting a quartet augmented by a string section arranged by Richard Hayman, recorded in 1955 and released on the EmArcy label.

Personnel:

Helen Merrill – vocals

Hank Jones – piano

Barry Galbraith – guitar

Milt Hinton – double bass

Sol Gubin – drums

Unidentified strings arranged and conducted by Richard Hayman

Reception.

The AllMusic review by Richard Mortifoglio called the album “an unmitigated artistic success. The strings are tastefully scored, the songs are classics or soon to be, and Merrill’s delivery is by turns emotional, haunting, and highly musical.”

[projazznet]

Helen Merrill – Bossa Nova in Tokyo

Sure, it’s not totally authentic – but the album’s some sweet vocal bossa material by Helen, recorded with the quartet of Sadao Watanabe, one of Japan’s best bossa practicioners in the 60s! The record features a very strange version of the theme to “Johnny Guitar”, plus 2 Japanese titles, “Sinjite Itai” and “Yume Wa Yoru Hiraku”. Other tracks include “Agua De Beber”, “Shadow Of Your Smile”, “Fly Me To The Moon”, and “Boy From Ipanema” (Dusty Groove).

Helen Merrill / vocals Sadao Watanabe / alto sax, flute Sadanori Nakamure / guitar Masabumi Kikuchi / piano Masanaga Harada / bass Masahiko Togashi / drums

[projazznet]

Helen Merrill ‎– Helen Merrill In Tokyo

A rare Japanese session from vocalist Helen Merrill – one of a few key 60s recordings she cut on the Tokyo scene, after initial fame in the US! The album features a great small group arranged by drummer Takeshi Inomata, played by a combo that includes alto, baritone, and trumpet – all used in a cool and laidback mode that resonates nicely with Merrill’s more familiar 50s sides on Mercury – but which also stretches out more, too – not as “cool”, and with a sense of inflection that’s mighty nice. Helen’s in great form vocally – often singing in that almost-effortless mode that we love in her classic work – and titles include “It Never Entered My Mind”, “Bewitched”, “You Do Something To Me”, “Teach Me Tonight”, “Good Morning Heartache”, and “My Favorite Things”,- Dusty Groove, Inc.

[projazznet]

Helen Merrill / Dick Katz – The Feeling Is Mutual

Two rare slices of work from Helen Merrill – overlooked 60s sessions recorded with pianist/arranger Dick Katz! First up is the album The Feeling Is Mutual — wonderfully moody session from Merrill – and an obscure one too! The album was recorded in New York in 1965 — with pianist Katz leading an off-beat group that featured Thad Jones on cornet, Jim Hall on guitar, Ron Carter on bass, and Pete LaRoca on drums – a combo that has equal talents for modern moments and more sensitive moods.

[projazznet]

Helen Merrill ‎– Casa Forte

Helen Merrill is in top form throughout this 1980 session, backed by pianist Torrie Zito’s thoughtful arrangements. Merrill, who improvises like a member of the band, always knows the possibilities within each song she performs and finds a way to make it her own. A good part of the LP includes bossa nova tunes, highlighted by her deliberate lyrical treatment of “Wave,” in which Zito is her sole accompanist. Her silken voice is wrapped in strings for the lush takes of “So Many Stars” and “Like a Lover,” with Bucky Pizzarelli providing the perfect touch on guitar. “Natural Sounds” is an unjust obscurity, a touching ballad sung by Barbra Streisand in the mid-’60s on a live album, though Merrill handles it with far more finesse. There are also enjoyable renditions of standards like “Too Marvelous for Words” and “Close Enough for Love.” Recommended. (AllMusic Review by Ken Dryden).

[projazznet]

Helen Merrill – Helen Merrill

Helen Merrill is the debut studio album by vocalist Helen Merrill, on which she is accompanied by trumpeter Clifford Brown in arrangements by Quincy Jones.

[sfc14]

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