Lady Sings the Blues
We've called them torch singers, divas, chanteuses, and the First Ladies of American Song. And as the contemporary, Grammy-bedecked ascent ofNorah Jones(who appears here withCharlie Hunter) attests, these ladies who sing the blues continue to reinterpret a tradition rooted in the blues, yet steeped in songcraft that spans jazz, pop, and even rock. This double-disc, 26-track collection spans a half-century-plus and offers up not only a tantalizing introduction to legends and pioneers (includingElla Fitzgerald,Sarah Vaughan,Della Reese,Etta James,Lena Horne) and an equally rich body of song standards, but also chronicles how an originally largely black heritage in effect became the pop mainstream in the '40s and '50s (and beyond) via the work of singers likeDinah Shore,Kay Starr,June Christy,Peggy LeeandJulie London. It's also a testament to how vital that legacy remains, with Jones' own Brazilian-inflected cover ofBryan Ferry's "More Than This" andPatricia Barber's spare, sultry '90s read of "The Thrill Is Gone" but two strong examples of the set's expansive scope. It's a compelling sampler and the best kind of musical appetizer: One that leaves you craving more.--Jerry McCulley