If Women Ruled the World

Ethel Ennis

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 6, 1998)
• Original Release Date: October 6, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Savoy Jazz
• ASIN: B00000DC2F
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #334,503 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
On the back cover of this CD's booklet there's a photo of singer Ethel Ennis's contract from Savoy Records. Her first contract, that is, drawn up in 1951, so it's unmistakable, vocally and otherwise, that Ennis is a classy veteran. But this set comes decades after her debut, much to the surprise of the ears as they hear Ennis's youthful scat and the textured edges that rise and fall with her shapely phrasing. For this project Savoy enlisted pianist Marc Copland to arrange 12 tunes, all of them written by women, for jazz veteran Ennis to sing. The selection shows far more than Ennis's vocal brilliance, taking "Sometimes I Don't Wanna Go Home" and the title track from Joan Armatrading's book, "Nick of Time" from Bonnie Raitt's book, and a tune each from Carole King, Tracy Chapman, Joni Mitchell, and Ennis herself. Trumpeter Ingrid Jensen shows her sharp improvisational logic even while playing with a tone that's warm in the post-Miles Davis vein, and the rest of the band is eager to slow-burn these jazzed pop nuggets. Imagine Raitt's "Nick of Time" as a smartly samba-inflected shuffle, and you've got a glimpse of this collection, which stands to show anew that Ennis is a consummate vocal virtuoso. --Andrew Bartlett

Jazz Times
[Ethel Ennis] takes great advantage of the opportunity, laying down 12 sparkling tracks that are a choice mixture of standards, one original, and several selections from diverse and distinctive women.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OUTSTANDING, March 17, 2000

By	"dorysam" (USA) - See all my reviews

WE HAVE LOVED ETHEL ENNIS FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND ARE SO HAPPY SHE IS SINGING FOR US ONCE AGAIN.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tour de force by leading female jazz singer, October 23, 1998

By A Customer

Ethel Ennis is one of America's more hidden musical treasures. This new CD, released by Savoy Jazz/Denon, reveals her talents to a new generation of listeners.

In this first release for Savoy, Ethel explores the work of traditional and contemporary female writers and composers. She uses top notch New York musicians, including two outstanding women horn players: Ingrid Jensen (trumpet) and Jane Ira Bloom (saxophone).

Marc Copland, keyboardist and producer, is revered in New York for his sensitive musicality. In this CD he creates a context for Ethel who improvises with the players to create spontaneous, deeply felt renditions of familiar songs which become original compositions. Just listen to what she does with "When I Need You."

The song selections also give Ethel opportunities to express her own convictions about the need for men and women to be free and honest about themselves. "Hey You", her own composition, once performed in Jimmy Carter's White House, asks people to "do what you want to do."

When Betty Carter died recently, listeners have asked "who's left" to continue the jazz tradition of singers who create living music when they perform songs. This CD answers the question. "Ethel"

4.0 out of 5 stars Impressed, June 25, 2004

By	Gaylen Halbert (Weimar, California United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I saw this album in a used CD bin and took a chance. Wow! I highly recommend it to both jazz and pop music fans. Thanks to Marc Copland for his contribution.