Carmen McRae - Carmen For Cool Ones (1957) [vinyl>flac]

Hip early work from Carmen McCrae - with jazzy arrangements by Fred Katz, featuring mostly west coast players running through some off-kilter backings that give Carmen a different sound than usual. The album's definitely got the "cool" in the title, but Carmen's sophisticated phrasing of the songs brings a lot of warmth to the tracks - in a kind of counterpoint that works really well with the music. Titles include "I Remember Clifford", "What's New", "Weak For The Man", "A Shoulder To Cry On", "Any Old Time", "Without A Word Of Warning", and "The Night We Called It A Day". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Decca Records, DL 8738, 1958

Recorded 1957

Personnel:

Carmen McRae - Vocals

Pete Candoli - Trumpet (#A6)

Ray Lion - Trumpet (#A6)

Milt Bernhart - Trombone (#A6)

Bob Enevoldsen - Trombone (#A6)

Tommy Johnson - Tuba (#A6)

Buddy Collette - Flute, Alto Saxophone (#A2,A4,B4,B6)

George W. Smith - Clarinet (#A1,A2,A4,B1,B3,B4,B6)

Justin Gordon - Bass Clarinet (#A1,A2,A4,B1,B3,B4,B6)

Mahlon Clark - Bass Clarinet (#A1,B1,B3)

Bill Green - Flute (#A1,B1,B3)

Harry Klee - Flute [Solo] (#A1,B1,B3)

Warren Webb - Oboe (#A2,A4,B4,B6)

Larry Bunker - Vibraphone (#A3,A5,B2,B5), Drums (#A6)

Frank Emilio Flynn - Vibraphone, Marimba (#A3,A5,B2,B5)

John T. Williams - Piano (#A3,A5,B2,B5)

Joe Marino - Piano (#A2,A4,B4,B6), Celeste (#A3,A5,B2,B5)

Calvin Jackson - Piano (#A6)

Joseph R. Gibbons - Guitar (#A2,A4,B4,B6)

Billy Bean - Guitar (#A6)

Fred Katz - Cello (#B5)

Ike Isaacs - Bass (#A1-A5,B1-B6)

Red Mitchell - Bass (#A6)

Specs Wright - Drums (#A1-A5,B1-B6)

Tracks:

A1. All The Things You Are {Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II} (2:25)

A2. A Shoulder To Cry On {Chuck Darwin, Paulette Girard} (3:52)

A3. Any Old Time {Artie Shaw} (3:09)

A4. Weak For The Man {Jeanne Burns} (4:08)

A5. What's New {Bob Haggart, Johnny Burke} (2:29)

A6. I Get A Kick Out Of You {Cole Porter} (2:14)

B1. [What Can I Say] After I Say {Walter Donaldson, Abe Lyman} (1:46)

B2. Without A Word Of Warning (Mack Gordon, Harry Revel} (3:19)

B3. You Are Mine {Frank Loesser} (3:26)

B4. If I Were A Bell {Ted Snyder, Sam Lewis, Joe Young} (1:54)

B5. The Night We Called It A Day {Matt Dennis, Tom Adair} (4:28)

B6. I Remember Clifford {Benny Golson, Jon Hendricks} (3:00)

Orchestra Director, Arranger - Fred Katz

Liner Notes - Burt Korall