 Chris Connor Probably a perfect album to the over-70 crowd, this release by Chris Connor is dated enough that won't appeal much to anyone that doesn't fondly remember the 50s jazz scene directly. Connor's voice is a virtually flawless jazz instrument, similar to Anita O'Day's and perfectly suited to the (predominently) big-band arrangements on this album. She lends just the right touch of smoke, but never loses diction, and on tunes like "Try a Little Tenderness" and "Lullaby of Birdland" she's unbeatable. But then there's tunes like "Chiquta From Chi-Wah-Wah," which I can't imagine anyone in their twenties finding other than "quaint." (That's not a compliment.) Actually, that's something of an exception to the rule on this album, because most of it is actually quite good and some of it is pretty turns-you-to-jelly good. The overall effect is of a good meal at an overpriced restaurant, very satisfying but without real fireworks. Other highlights of the CD include "Ask Me," "Goodbye," and "A Cottage For Sale," while everyone's-gotta-cover-'em-at-some-point songs like "How Long Has This Been Going On" and "Gone With the Wind" seem much less essential. Connor is backed alternately by the Ellis Larkin Trio, Vinnie Burke's Quartet, and Sy Oliver's Orchestra, and from those non-names, you can deduce that this session will be appreciated best by the serious old-school connoisseur of jazz vocals. Most of the songs take about the same tempo, and Connor doesn't vary her approach too much from song to song. She is a vocalist deserving of better fame, but her recorded legacy doesn't have too much drama to recommend it. She's highly regarded in vocal-jazz circles but she never really gave us a defined repertoire of signature tunes, so she'll likely always remain one of those singers remembered fondly by those who knew of her back in the day. But that day is done, daddy-o. What to make of Chris Connor in the post-lounge, pre-monorail 00s? Very, very good. but not a whole lot to connect with. If only she'd had a heroin problem … instant cred!
Review by Leonore Bootcock |