Anita O'DAY - At Mister Kelly's 1958

Anita O'DAY - At Mister Kelly's 1958

Jazz

Recorded in her hometown of Chicago and opening with the rarely-heard verse of “But Not For Me,” this nice nightclub date is notable for containing three tunes by Joe and Eileen Albany: “I Have a Reason For Living,” “My Love For You,” and the poignant “Loneliness is a Well.” O’Day goes out of her way to introduce the composers on each of these songs, causing one to wonder exactly what kind of backroom deal she struck with the Albanys. The person who previously owned this LP wrote an exclamation point on the track listing after “The Song Is You,” but it’s actually kind of a wack closer. Still, a good live record
**
Caught live with just her piano trio at Chicago's famous now-defunct nightclub, Anita O'Day is in an ebullient mood as she tosses off a series of standards and novelties. Whether this is an accurate snapshot of her live act is open to question; the stage business in between numbers seems rather formal and one doesn't really feel the excitement of a live performance. Yet O'Day is clearly in a creative mood, whether allowing her vulnerability to show in the torchy ballads or reveling in the boppish uptempo workouts. Her vocal on "Tea For Two" is a virtuoso deconstruction, full of satiric quotes and rhythmic shifts at a warp-speed tempo. Fleet-fingered Joe Masters decorates the fills with standard bop runs on the slightly-out-of-tune house piano.
By Richard S. Ginell. AMG.
**
Joe Masters- Piano
Larry Woods- Bass
John Poole- Drums
Anita O'Day- Vocal
**
A1. But Not for Me  
A2. I Have a Reason for Living-My Love for You     
A3. Varsity Drag  
A4. It Never Entered My Mind  
A5. Tea for Two  
B1. Every Time I'm With You  
B2. Have You Met Miss Jones  
B3. The Wildest Gal in Town  
B4. Star Eyes  
B5. Loneliness is a Well  
B6. The Song Is You
**
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Anita O'DAY - Anita O'DAY Sings The Winners 1958

Anita O'DAY - Anita O'DAY Sings The Winners 1958
Recorded Universal Apr 2-3, 1958
Verve 1981

Jazz

Anita O'Day, whose singing career began in the big band era, was in the prime of her life when she recorded this LP for Verve in 1958. Amazingly, "Winners" was cut in only two days of that year, April 2 & 3, with Russ Garcia and His Orchestra on the first day (tracks 7-12), and the band of Marty Paich on the second (tracks 1-6). This CD has so many great cuts, it could have been called "The Very Best of Anita." "Take the A Train," "Peanut Vendor" and "Frenesi" are especially good. This is, without question, one of the best female vocalist recordings out there.
By J. BURGESON.
**
The "Winners" of the title refers to the poll-winning bandleaders and composers associated with the songs she chose to cover here. Many of the songs are best known as instrumentals, so it's a fresh experience to hear Anita tackle the tunes vocally. Where lyrics are in short supply, she toys with the melody in her scat phrases. So even with the sketchiest parts to sing, she will hold your interest because, as always, Anita can play with the form of a tune as well as any man with a horn.
Try "Four Brothers" and "Frenesi" to hear her give-and-take with the band.
The 12 tracks from the original LP were recorded in April 1958; the first half of the program arranged by Marty Paich, the second half by Russ Garcia.
By Michael St John.
**
Jim Amlotte- Trombone
Georgie Auld- Sax (Tenor)
Milt Bernhart- Trombone
Buddy Bregman
Larry Bunker- Percussion
Conte Candoli- Trumpet
Pete Candoli- Trumpet
Bill Catalano- Trumpet
Jules Chaiken- Trumpet
Bob Cooper- Sax (Tenor)
Bill Dowdy- Drums
Jack DuLong- Sax (Baritone), Sax (Bass)
Harry "Sweets" Edison- Trumpet
Lloyd Elliott- Trombone
Bob Enevoldsen- Trombone 
The Russell Garcia- Orchestra Performer
Herb Geller- Sax (Alto)
Phil Gilbert Trumpet
Jimmy Giuffre- Sax (Baritone)
Conrad Gozzo- Trumpet
Gene Harris- Piano
Al Hendrickson- Guitar
Lonnie Hewitt- Piano
Richie Kamuca- Sax (Tenor)
Lee Katzman- Trumpet
Red Kelly- Bass
Barney Kessel- Guitar
Kent Larsen- Trombone
Archie LeCoque- Trombone
Mel Lewis- Drums
Ray Linn- Trumpet
Joe Masters- Piano
Billy May- Orchestra Performer
Joe Mondragon- Bass
Lennie Niehaus- Sax (Alto)
Sam Noto- Trumpet
Anita O'Day- Vocals
Marty Paich- Piano, Arranger, Conductor
Bill Perkins- Sax (Tenor)
John Poole- Drums
Johnny Rae- Drums
George Roberts- Trombone
Frank Rosolino- Trombone 
Freddie Schreiber- Bass
Richard Seidel CD Preparation
Bud Shank- Sax (Alto)
Kenny Shroyer- Trombone
Andy Simpkins- Bass
Paul Smith- Piano
Alvin Stoller- Drums, Sax (Baritone)
Cal Tjader- Vibraphone
Larry Woods- Bass
**
A1. Take the 'A' Train  
A2. Tenderly  
A3. Interlude [Night in Tunisia]  
A4. Four  
A5. Early Autumn  
A6. Four Brothers  

B1. Sing, Sing, Sing  
B2. My Funny Valentine  
B3. Frenesi  
B4. Body and Soul  
B5. What's Your Story Morning Glory  
B6. Peanut Vendor
**
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Anita O'DAY & Cal TJADER - Time For Two 1962

Anita O'DAY & Cal TJADER - Time For Two 1962
Label: Verve
Audio CD: (June 22, 1999)
Recorded in Hollywood, California in February 1962

Jazz

Anita O'Day, who celebrates her 80th birthday in October, is the last of the great female jazz singers whose careers encompass swing and bop (and of course the rock era). Fans certify that she often outswung even her peer Ella Fitzgerald and was often more daring. Her husky-voiced way with ballads also gave birth to the "cool school" of vocalists. O'Day still has her commanding drive on fast tempos, improvising skills, and rhythmic surety intact, judging from her return to performing at New York's Avery Fisher Hall (on the same bill as her fans Manhattan Transfer) for the recent JVC Jazz Festival. The classic recordings on this handsome nine-CD boxed set, cut from 1952 to 1962 for Norman Granz (who also gave the world Fitzgerald's "Songbook" series), are O'Day's finest, and, for fans, got-to-haves. O'Day is largely unknown to many younger listeners, who may first want to sample any of the nine reissues of her individual Verve albums, including the just-released collaboration with Latin-tinged vibes king Cal Tjader, "Time For Two."
**
Both Anita O'Day and Cal Tjader are strong believers in improvising, together they swing through some excellent material including an afro-cuban swing version of Mr Sandman which actually sounds hip.  O'Day with her completley black phrasing is perfect with Tjader's afro-cubam rhythms, also includes swing, blues, standards, all with a touch of hot jazz.  Highlights include "That's Your Red Wagon" "Peel Me A Grape" and an absolutly hot version of "Mr Sandman".  Highly recommended as are all of Miss O"Day's Verves.
From Amazon.com
**
Anita O'Day- Vocals
Cal Tjader, Johnnie Rae- Vibraphone, Drums
Freddy Schreiber- Bass
Bob Corwin or Lonnie Hewitt- Piano
**
01.  Thanks For The Memory
02.  It Shouldn't Happen To A Dream
03.  Just In Time
04.  Under A Blanket Of Blue
05.  That's Your Red Wagon
06.  Peel Me A Grape
07.  An Occasional Man
08.  The Party's Over
09.  I Believe In You
10.  Mister Sandman
11.  Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year
12.  I'm Not Supposed To Be Blue Blues
**
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