Morgana King - Portraits (1984) [vinyl>flac]

Competent set presenting actress/vocalist Morgana King doing jazz-oriented pop, standards, and ballads backed by a tight combo. She has good technique, delivery, and style; there is nothing innovative or particularly original about either the material or the performances, but they are thoroughly professional and often enjoyable. ~ by Ron Wynn, AMG.

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When I was much younger, I asked a big question of a man named John Levy. The question was, "What is the essential ingredient for a musician to be great?" I have never forgotten his answer, which was, "To have your own sound." That answer has worn well with me over the years. Morgana King is the epitome of this criteria and it is a joy always to hear great quality which is instantly identifiable. She indeed has her own sound in the best sense of this concept. ~ by Bill Evans; extract from Liner Notes.

Muse Records, MR 5301, 1984

Recorded 19^th & 21^st October, 1983 At Songshop, New York City

Tracks:

A1. What's Going On?,  Save The Children {Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye, Renaldo Benson} (5:49)

A2. You Go To My Head {Haven Gillespie, J. Fred Coots} (3:27)

A3. Moment Of Truth {Frank Scott, Tex Satterwhite} (3:24)

A4. Time Was [Duerme] {Anna Sosenko} (3:37)

B1. Send In The Clowns {Stephen Sondheim} (3:10)

B2. Lush Life {Billy Strayhorn} (4:09)

B3. You're Not The Kind {Irving Mills, Will Hudson} (3:44)

B4. If You Could See Me Now {Carl Sigman, Tadd Dameron} (5:47)

Personnel:

Morgana King - Vocals

Ben Aronov - Keyboards

Clifford Carter - Synthesizer

Joe Puma - Guitar

Art Koenig - Bass

Jay Leonhart - Bass (#A2,B2)

Ed Caccavale - Drums

John Kaye - Percussion

Credits:

Producer - Chuck Irwin, Mitch Farber

Executive Producer - Morgana King

Engineer - Chuck Irwin, John Tamburello, Wayne Vlcan

Mastering Engineer - Joe Brescio, The Cutting Room, NYC

Album Design - Ron Warwell

Album Photography - Arthur Paxton

Liner Notes - Bill Evans

Morgana King - Higher Ground (1980) [vinyl>flac]

Morgana King (born June 4, 1930) is an American jazz singer and actress. King was born Maria Grazia Morgana Messina in Pleasantville, New York. Her parents were from Fiumefreddo di Sicilia, Province of Catania, Sicily, Italy. She grew up in New York City. At age 16 she developed a love for big bands and as a result of her exposure she began a professional singing career along with receiving a scholarship to the Metropolitan School of Music. Historically when she sang in a Greenwich Village nightclub in 1953, a record label executive took interest after being impressed with the unique phrasing and multi-octave range. Three years later in 1956, her first album, For You, For Me, For Evermore, was released. In 1977 she signed up with Muse Records producing nine albums in all. Higher Ground is Morgana's third LP on Muse. As with her previous LP's King surrounds herself with a bunch of fine musicians and sets about interpreting a broad range of tunes of both pop and jazz standard derivation. Overall a fine outing for a great songstress, Enjoy!

Muse Records, MR 5224, 1980

Recorded 16^th May, 1979 At CI Recording Studio, New York City

Personnel:

Morgana King - Vocals

Ben Aronov - Piano

Jack Wilkins - Guitar

Art Koenig - Bass

Eddie Caccavale - Drums

Ray Mantilla - Percussion

Tracks:

A1. Feel Like Flying {Gino Vanelli} (4:04)

Medley (5:01)

A2a. The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else {Isham Jones, Gus Kahn}

A2b. You're Driving Me Crazy {Walter Donaldson}

A3. What Is This Thing Called Love {Cole Porter} (3:53)

A4. You Can't Hide Love {Skip Scarborough} (3:33)

B1. Higher Ground {Stevie Wonder} (3:50)

B2. The Long And Winding Road, Golden Slumbers {Paul McCartney, John Lennon} (3:20)

B3. You Stepped Out Of A Dream {Gus Kahn, Nacio Herb Brown} (4:42)

Medley (5:12)

B4a. When I Fall In Love {Victor Young, Edward Heyman}

B4b. Teach Me Tonight {Gene DePaul, Sammy Cahn}

Credits:

Producer - Mitch Farber

Recording Engineer - Chuck Irwin

Mastering Engineer - Joe Brescio (The Master Cutting Room, NYC)

Photography, Cover Design - Bobi Pierce

Liner Notes - Joe Fields