 Blossom Dearie Blossom Dearie is a national treasure. I can think of no vocalist who has anything close to the uniqueness, charm, and range of expression that Blossom has. A natural cabaret singer best suited to comedic songs or other "light" repertoire, Blossom can just as quickly turn around and draw you in to the most aching, beautiful love song possible. Once Upon a Summertime is one those discs where anyone who doesn't like this one is just a big ol' bile-filled spitemeister. Opening with "Tea For Two," taken at a slow, loping pace, Blossom infuses the song with real emotion. She's the girl you fall in love with because she's in love, and you can not help but smile. "Surrey With the Fringe on Top" is given a similarly stroll-along-the-lake treatment, with Blossom rendering the lyrics precisely but with great humor and personality. This is not a song that really has universal appeal, but you wouldn't know it while sitting spellbound by Blossom's voice. Every single cut on the album is done perfectly. Blossom fronts a quartet (Blossom on piano and vocals, with Mundell Lowe on guitar and Oscar Peterson's rhythm section – Ray Brown on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums – providing the greatest sympathy to the session) that blasts through twelve songs in 35 minutes, leaving the listener gratefully satisfied. The setlist alternates ballads and humorous uptempo tunes, with the latter offering big release in several places. The highlights among highlights: "If I Were a Bell," "Doodlin' Song," and the near-punk hilarity of Rodgers & Hart's "Down With Love." Also: the oft-anthologized definitive reading of "Manhattan," "Our Love is Here to Stay," "It Amazes Me," "We're Together" … to quote Ricki Lake, it's all good. This is one of I believe six albums Blossom cut for Verve in the 50s (this one is the best, from 1958), and with any luck Verve will reissue every note she recorded for them. She never gained the fame of an Ella or Sarah, but Blossom remains one of the most subtle and intelligent performers ever. Currently she runs her own record label (Daffodil) and has gained some new fans who are recognizing her as the voice of "Figure Eight" and "Unpack Your Adjectives" from "Schoolhouse Rock!" The more people on the bandwagon, the better, I say. There have really been few other vocalists of comprable artistry and individuality; the only parallel is Georgia Engel from "Mary Tyler Moore." Essential is not a word I throw around lightly, but this is unabashedly and indefatigably essential. An absolute classic.
Review by Orlie Borlie |
