Anita O'Day Swings Cole Porter CD

Out of print on cassette on Verve [422 849 266] as of December, 1993.

For more than a half-century, Anita O'Day has been the most adventurous jazz singer of them all. Though Betty Carter may have bent more notes or stretched more vowels, it is O'Day who has always gone out on a musical limb no matter what the context. The woman more or less invented the abstract vocal style during her mid-'40s stint with Stan Kenton and when she first came to notice with Gene Krupa. And she hasn't looked back since.

Of course, the risk in never playing safe is that you are bound to fail often. An Anita O'Day album can be quite an erratic affair. Happily, this lively Cole Porter set from 1959, featuring Billy May's fresh-sounding, hard-swinging arrangements, is one musical gamble that pays off. To listen to the singer expertly skirting the melody on "Night and Day" or skipping lightly through "Love For Sale," all the while respecting Porter's famous words, is truly exhilarating. The collection also includes O'Day's brilliant 1955 selection "You're the Top," in which she delightfully rewrites Porter's second verse as a swinging tribute to jazz itself.

Includes liner notes by Will Friedwald.

Digitally remastered by Joseph M. Palmaccio.

Personnel includes: Anita O'Day (vocals); Jimmy Giuffre (arranger, reeds); Ralph Burns (arranger, piano); Bill Holman, Billy May (arranger); Charlie Kennedy (alto saxophone); Bill Perkins, Richie Kamuca, Budd Johnson (tenor saxophone); Jack Nimitz (baritone saxophone); Lee Katzman, Jack Sheldon, Al Porcino, Ray Triscari, Conte Condoli, Stu Williamson, Roy Eldridge (trumpet); Frank Rosilino Milt Bernhart, Llyod Elliot, Si Zetner, Joe Howard, Bob Edmondson (trombone); Kenny Shroyer (bass trombone); Alan Pollan (tuba); Jimmy Rowles, Paul Smith, Lou Levy, Arnold Ross (piano); Barney Kessel, Al Hendrickson, Tal Farlow (guitar); Joe Mondragon, Buddy Clark, Al McKibbon, Leroy Vinnegar (bass); Alvin Stoller, Lawrence Marable, Mel Lewis, Jackie Mills (drums).

Producer: Norman Granz.

Compilation producer: Will Friedwald.