There are several remarkable things about this record, the most remarkable being that it is Miss Jordan’s first, although she has been on the jazz scene for some years. I have been quite overwhelmed by the sheer musical and jazz qualities of her singing, and she is undoubtedly a major talent in the manner of Mark Murphy. Her performances, like Murphy’s, are unusually mature and complete, and she sings with a confidence and poise which is superior to that of most established singers.
Disdaining any substantial support, she is content with a sparse, but very effective backing. On some numbers she is accompanied only by bass and drums, and she makes full use of the resulting freedom to indulge in some spectacular and exciting improvisations. This lady is a jazz singer in every sense of the word.
The material leans a little heavily on slow ballads, although there are some short uptempos which break up the breathy lethargy from time to time.
This is Blue Note’s first venture into vocal recordings, and is a welcome departure from the bloody-minded tenorists and noisy organ-players who seem to comprise most of their catalogue. If they would go even further and unearth some of their James P. Johnson and Ed Hall sessions, I would be profoundly grateful. If there is any justice, this first album of Miss Jordan’s will make a lot of girl singers want to give up.
Discography
Falling In Love With Love; If You Could See Me Now; Am I Blue?; Dat Dere; When The World Was Young; Let’s Face The Music (19 min) – Laugh, Clown, Laugh; Who Can I Turn To Now?; Baltimore Oriole; I’m A Fool To Want You; Hum Drum Blues; Willow Weep For Me (19 min)
Sheila Jordan (vcl); Barry Galbraith (g); Steve Swallow (bs); Denzil Best (d). 1962.
(Blue Note 9002 12111LP 42s. 6d.)
