Helen Forrest: The Voice of the Big Bands
Arguably the most underrated singer of the 20th Century. Her impeccable phrasing and unparalleled range and breath control made it easy to be heard over a 17 piece band. Miss '99' lbs. of dynamite (according to Downbeat Magazine) was held in the highest regard as the finest band singer ever by such contemporaries such as Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald etc. Listen to her version of "When The Sun Comes Out" with The Benny Goodman Orchestra, albeit one of her lesser known works, it may well be the greatest interplay you'll ever hear between band and vocalist! If you love Big Band music of the 1930s and 1940s and have never heard of Helen Forrest, then you are missing out! She is one of the classiest of all Big Band singers and makes her first appearance on Jasmine with a smooth selection of standards which are backed by some of the greatest names, Arties Shaw, Benny Goodman And Harry James. As a bonus, Dick Haymes makes an appearance on three tracks.