Customer Reviews

Jo + Jazz

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Jo Stafford is now and will always be one of the greatest pop vocalists if for no other reason than her amazing ability to always sing the notes squarely, dead on! She is, in Mel Torme's words, incapable of bad pitch and tone. But that is, of course, not all there is to Stafford. If you've never heard her sing, you owe yourself this treat. Hers is a beautiful, sometimes throaty, sweet voice and her understanding of lyrics is second to none. This album was a departure for her, teaming up with some of the greatest jazz soloists: Ben Webster & Johnny Hodges, for example, with arrangements by conductor, Johnny Mandel. The songs are classics (Mercer's "Midnight Sun" and Porter's "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To;" Kern & Hammerstein's "The Folks Who Live On The Hill" and Ellington's "Day Dream"). I do wish there would have been more complete liner notes, but that is a minor complaint about a very major album.

Jo Stafford sings with former Ellington ulumni such as Ben Webster, with excellent jazz tinged arrangements by Johnny Mandel, Stafford allows all of the musicians to solo, and her vocals never sounded so warm(she had a reputation ffor singing coldly) perhaphs because this is the first real jazz setting Miss Stafford has ever been in, and it suits her just fine. This is an overlooked masterpiece, a must buy for anyone who has an interest in classic jazz, and/or jazz vocal.

American Folk Songs, Once Over Lightly, Swinging Down Broadway, Ballad of the Blues, & Jo + Jazz are Ms. Stafford's best albums. Jovial Jo, who owns the Swinging Down Braodway material, foolishly didn't transfer it as is to cd. 11 of it's 12 songs are on the Broadway Revisited & Big Band Sound cds. Luckily, the other albums have all their songs intact on cd. Now to the cd in hand, Jo + Jazz doesn't have one bad song, all 12 are jewels. My favorite song is Mignight Sun, a jazz gem with a Johnny Mercer lyric. Sun has a complicated triple rhyme pattern that totally delights the listener. Mercer & Stafford make one visualize the story with it's romatic outdoor winter setting. This version rivals Ella's. While Ella's band may rival Jo's, the latter's voice is subtly more powerful. I've Gotta World On A String, You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To, & Love For Sale swing in a intelligent & hip manner. Her vibrancy works on those 3 in a freshly orginal way. In a style that outshines Peggy Lee, Jo is velvetly & dreamily vibrant in 2 of the 3 Ellington tunes, I Didn't Know About You & Daydream. Ms. Lee was usually all throat, too little vibrato. The 3rd Ellington tume, Just Squeeze Me, is the swinging appetizer that perpares us for a true jazz feast. Folks Who Live On The Hill has to be mentioned for its great dramatic & lyrical pefromance by Jo. If only that great verse was included! For lovers of great jazz singing this cd is it! Ditto for Once Over Lighly. The rest of those albums must also be included in everyone's great pop singing library.

I am a highly critical jazz vocal fan, and this CD proves that Jo Stafford is a marvelous jazz singer, cool arrangements by Johnny Mandel solos by Ben Webster and Jo's cold but sensitive readings are wonderful. This may be(aside from Peggy Lee's Decca LP Black Coffee & Lee Wiley's Victor LP West Of The Moon) one of the greatest jazz vocal sessions ever recorded. Hihly recommended.

Here in this wonderful session Jo Stafford sings with some real jazz giants like Ben Webster and Ray Nance. Miss Stafford never sounded so warm and natural as she does in this fine jazz session. Excellent!!!

I am a jazz musician and a huge Jo Stafford fan. I probably own 6 or 7 of her CD's and this is by far my favorite!

This is Jo Swingin' with a relatively small jazz band. It's the perfect environment for Jo's smooth vocal style. It is really a terrific recording. Buy it! Yu won't be sorry.

Jo Stafford will be rescued from her unjust oblivion. Due to her popular singles she seems to have been unjustly relegated to some late 40's -early 50's novelty morass-aka Teresa Brewer- But to hear her at her peak-(In STEREO!)-singing great songs-with such marvelous arrangements-I can't imagine anyone yearning for "Shrimp Boats" again...

Jo Stafford was one of the best female vocalists of the entire twentieth century; her albums prove it! She invariably gave her all to make each ballad shine; and her adoring fans loved her for it. The quality of the sound on this CD is excellent and the artwork is tastefully done.

The CD starts off with "Just Squeeze Me;" Jo swings brightly to make this number engaging and special. "Just Squeeze Me" couldn't be better; Jo handles this with panache and she never skips a beat. Her excellent diction serves to bolster her performance even more--I love it! The musical arrangement fits perfectly with Jo's vocals; and that makes "Just Squeeze Me" a strong beginning number for this CD. "For You" uses the brass to great advantage; Jo sounds so good and this is one dynamic tune! "For You" also employs the piano very well and Jo handles this wonderfully. This is a prime example of Jo Stafford at her very best.

"Midnight Sun" is very pretty; I first heard this sung by Ella Fitzgerald but I think Ella would be quite proud of Jo Stafford's interpretation! Jo handles the rather complex tempo and key changes like the pro she was and always will remain; I am amazed at just how well she sings "Midnight Sun." In addition, "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" features Jo squarely front and center--which is quite all right by me! Jo aces this as effortlessly as if it were mere breathing; but we know it really wasn't all that easy. Jo's talent always carried her through. Similarly, "The Folks Who Live On The Hill" is memorable when Jo delivers it passionately; I really like "The Folks Who Live On The Hill" and I think you'll enjoy this number if you haven't heard it before.

"What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry" is another jazzy number with Jo swinging brightly once again to give this her best effort--and she succeeds, too. "What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry" is actually very energetic and Jo's delivery is grand. "Imagination" is very easy on the ear; the music uses the brass and percussion very well and Jo sings this faultlessly. "Imagination" is definitely a major highlight of this album.

"S'posin'" is another fine tune that Jo infuses with gusto and it all holds its own very well. Indeed, the lush musical arrangement for "S'posin'" just couldn't sound better. "Day Dream" sparkles brighter than silver and gold combined when Jo Stafford performs it with great sensitivity; and the CD ends strong with Jo singing "I've Got the World On A String." "I've Got the World On A String" charms me with its beauty and Jo does this one up right!

Jo Stafford could take any tune under the sun and make it sound fresh, new and very entertaining; these ballads showcase her exceptional talent. I highly recommend this album for Jo Stafford fans; and people who like classic jazz vocals will not be disappointed.

This is an overlooked gem, a real jazz session with Jo Stafford a pop singer, performing jazz standrds with such jazz legends as Ben Webster with arranger Johnny Mandel. Stafford's slightly cold renditions of jazz standrds with Ben Websters warm playing make for a once in a lifetime masterpiece. Any jazz fan will want this in his or her collection.