Customer Reviews

The Great American Songbook

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Listening to this live outing on CD, with most of Carmen's spoken introductions cut out, is a frustrating experience. I had bought the CD a while back, but couldn't really get into it. Then I ran across the old vinyl double album in a used-record store, so I bought it to find out what I had been missing. And let me tell you, Carmen's witty and brash banter makes all the difference in establishing this album as a true listening experience. She cuts up for two and a half minutes alone before launching into "The Ballad of Thelonious Monk." Hearing Carmen speak to the audience does a lot to establish a sense of the room in which she was performing, the jovial mood she was in, and the spirit of that night in Donte's. And you know what, the sound even seems a bit richer on the old vinyl.

in this excellent re-issue of concert dates at Donte's. While the domestic single CD version of this album is great, this staggering double disc (in the new, less frustrating, "flip" jewel case) is an absolute "MUST-HAVE" for any Carmen fan. Known and loved not only for her unmistakeable delivery of phrases in song, but her dark and sometimes raunchy sense of humor, the "whole picture" is displayed here in 38 incredible tracks. The domestic version was edited for timing purposes, however the bulk of Carmen's segues between songs have been captured here for us to finally enjoy. (her speech about Thelonious Monk prior to singing "THE BALLAD OF THELONIOUS MONK" will make you appreciate both Carmen and the song itself all the more now) Everything else thats on the domestic version is here, including what I believe to be Carmen's greatest live vocal (and self accompaniment on piano) "THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS LOVE".(Carmen's reading of "LOOK AT THAT FACE" on the ALIVE! album is equally as beautiful...something about Carmen and Anthony Newley songs I guess!) After a brief ad lib we also hear a fine medley of songs (EASY LIVING/DAYS OF WINE & ROSES/IT'S IMPOSSIBLE) Bonus tracks a-plenty: "EAST OF THE SUN", "GLAD TO BE UNHAPPY", among others, and a swinging "I'LL REMEMBER APRIL" are on disc #2, which closes with superb readings of "BODY AND SOUL" and a faux pass by Ms. Mcrae during her still seamless version of "SEPTEMBER IN THE RAIN". Backed by Joe Pass on guitar (one of the best guitarists ever) and Jimmy Rowles on piano (when Ms. Mcrae was not playing piano herself), Chuck Domanico on drums and Chuck Flores on bass, this was truly THE concert to see. Donte's in L.A. may have never been so lucky to have such a monumental album recorded there. Lucky for us, we can be just as fortunate to own said album!

I'm lucky to have a great jazz station in my area (KCSM 91.9), and when they played a few of the tracks from the "At Ratso's" CD, I was intrigued. I found this CD at the local library, strangely enough.

Carmen McRae is an excellent vocalist, and she shines in this live, intimate setting, backed by a great rhythym section. She can really put inflection and attitude, not to mention emotion, into her voice.

The title of this album is rather misleading, and something like "Live at Donte's" would be more appropriate. I'm a bit disappointed that they had to cut the spoken introductions, and I'll keep a lookout for those LPs (even though I have no record player...heh).

Live jazz is like nothing else, pick up this CD.

This live club date (if you're looking for the best of Cole Porter, Gershwin, Rodgers and Hart, ignore the silly, inappropriate title) is good, representative Carmen from the 1970s. But she's beginning to reveal some of the uneven timbre, thin spots in her vocal range, over reliance on exaggerated diction that became evident in the latter part of her career. As good as this album is, a better example of Carmen working out with a rhythm section (and there are many such recordings) is "Live at Sugar Hill." (Look hard. She's in better voice on "Sunday," and sings the all-time definitive version of Rodgers and Hart's "It Never Entered My Mind." It's also been reissued as "In Person.")

After Billie Holiday's passing, the two supreme divas in jazz were Ella and Sarah. And if the list were expanded to include a third, it would arguably be Carmen. But unless you've heard her work from the 1950s and 60s, the high regard in which she is held by many listeners may not be immediately apparent based on the evidence of this and other later recordings. She could practically "carry" a rhythm section, or create powerful drama out of mundane material, first arousing us with abrasive indignation, then assuring us with the sheer sweetness of her soothing instrument. The strengths of this 1972 session, on the other hand, are to be found not simply in her commanding vocalizations but in her interaction with the other players. Her presence is liberating, allowing her musicians (including Joe Pass) to be not merely accompanists but fellow creators whose contributions take on the same importance as hers.

No one feels and communicates "time" like Carmen. A pianist herself, she has a little drummer at work in her brain controlling every phrase and note that issues from her lips. Listen to her relaxed phrasing and confident counter-melody while the rhythm section is burning on "I Cried for You." Then compare that with Louis Armstrong's trumpet in the late 20s and early 30s, especially on a classic like "Mahogany Hall Stomp." In the same way that Armstrong towered over all of his peers, Carmen commands the field among female jazz singers. It's not sufficient to listen to cuts like "Day by Day" or "I Only Have Eyes for You" and compliment her on selecting such superb, swinging musicians to back her up. It's because of HER that they're swinging that hard!

this is one of my favorite cd's. it's difficult to imagine a greater singer. SONGBOOK is lovely, long, rich -- a tear jerker and life affirmer. buy it, buy it, buy it.

It is a simple and disappointing fact that Carmen McRae spent much of her career in the collective shadow of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. However, unlike many vocalists who would (and did) throw in the towel, she carved out and developed a style all her own; while leaving us some wonderful music in the process.
This collection is a perfect example of that. She took these songs and interpreted them in ways that Ms. Vaughan and Ms. Fitzgerald couldn't touch. This collection proves that over most of her career she successfully resisted the temptation to try and sound more like Sarah or Ella. For that, we should be very thankful!

Carmen McRae does things to you that no other singer can, cutting to the heart of any song she sings. She's best in an intimate, live setting, so this is one of her finest recordings, remastered from what was originally a 2-LP set. The choice of songs is superlative, her band is utterly sympathetic (particularly bassist Chuck Domanico), and she is as witty as she is wise. I miss her spoken introductions, though, so I'm glad I still have the vinyl album. Sample: "If you ask me something about love that I haven't experienced -- I will experience it for you."

Her interpretation of every song she sang were inspiring and beautiful. Ever since the first time I heard her version of "The Man I Love", I just couldn't get enough of her deep, soulful singing. For me, she's right up there with the other great vocalists, Ella, Sarah and Billie!

Can the Amazon reviewer, Jim Emerson, get her name right? It's a shame that no one's caught the misspelling of her last name.

I've been a McRae fan for as long as I can remember. The first LP I purchased was one with Carmen and Sammy Davis. That got me hooked. I think I have every LP she ever made and now I've duplicated many of them in CD. The Great American Songbook showcases Carmen's range. As much as I enjoy "The Great American Songbook", my favorite McRae album is one called "Sugar Hill" and I wish I could still get a copy of it. I've almost worn mine out, I've played it so much. If you are a McRae fan, and you can find a copy of Sugar Hill, buy it, you won't be sorry.

Buy this CD...but if you can find the LP (a 2-LP set), buy it instead. This CD should be remastered with ALL of the spoken introductions--some of which are necessary (for example, The Ballad of Thelonius Monk). The music is wonderful and Carmen is one of the greats.