Entertainment Bay

Of all the great jazz vocalists of the 1950s and ’60s, Chris Connor is perhaps the least well-known today. Despite making a string of classic records for Atlantic, she always seems to be mentioned (if at all) after June Christy, Carmen McRae, Chet Baker, Anita O’Day or even Julie London when lists of the top singers of the era are compiled. Still, she was quite popular at the time, and it’s very easy to hear why. Though she could swing with anyone, her true greatness came on the slow songs, the torchy ones that come from broken hearts and messed-up lives, and sound best filtered through the blue haze of smoke and low lights. Connor could sing these ballads like Hank Aaron hit home runs: effortlessly and with loads of power. Her deep and rich voice caressed the words tenderly and with great care, giving the feeling that she was singing to you and you alone. Her death this week gives us a chance to look back on some wonderful performances and celebrate her all-too-short career.

from 1955’s Chris:
“All About Ronnie”

“Indian Summer”

from 1957’s Chris Connor Sings the George Gershwin Almanac of Song:
“I’ve Got a Crush on You”

From 1958’s Chris Craft:
“Moonlight in Vermont”
“Lover Man”

From 1960’s A Portrait of Chris:
“Follow Me”
“Here’s That Rainy Day”

If you can make it through these songs without tears shorting out your keyboard, you are made of stronger stuff than I am. Finding her records may not be an easy task but it’s well worth the effort. All About Chris is a nice collection of Connor’s early work on Bethlehem, Warm Cool: The Atlantic Years is a fine overview of her years spent on the label.

This is the best Chris Connor’s album:
A Jazz Date with Chris Connor/Chris Craft
This is an intruiging pair of Connor dates from the 1950s: the CD is filled to the brim with music (over 70 minutes’ worth) & that’s perhaps a good thing, as there’s a few duds here along with the gold. The best single track is probably the opener, “Moon Ray”, which deploys the resources of the band brilliantly & features spine-tingling singing. Other highlights are “Driftwood” and “Everything I’ve Got”. Connor’s singing is beautiful and swinging, and the band is terrific–Al Cohn & Lucky Thompson on sax on one date, Mundell Lowe on guitar on the other. — On the other hand, there is some pretty intrusive percussion on the first date, notably on a version of “Just Squeeze Me” where the bongos and whatnot simply sound ludicrous. Some of the arrangements are a bit dated or precious too, as on “Fancy Free” or “Be a Clown”. And perhaps “Johnny One Note” is an acquired taste too. Anyway, newcomers to Connor should head straight to the Gershwin two-disc set; those already introduced to her will want this disc for its best performances.

Check Out A Jazz Date with Chris Connor/Chris Craft on Amazon.com

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