Blue Stars Of France Lullaby Of Birdland & Other Famous Hits CD

Blossom Dearie is one of the most brilliant and attractive singers in jazz (the Astrud Gilberto of serious jazz). She formed Blue Stars Of France at the outset of her career in the early fifties and the band enjoyed an immediate American hit with their imaginative version of George Shearing's 'Lullaby of Birdland' which was arranged by Michel Legrand. The Blue Stars Of France album is the coolest modern music, from it evolved the Double Six Of Paris, Lambert Hendricks & Ross And The Swingle Sisters. Five Four. 2006.

Liner Note Author: Leonard Feather.
Recording information: 1954.
Arrangers: Michel Legrand; Blossom Dearie.
Leading off with their mid-'50s hit "Lullaby of Birdland," this presents an accomplished and buoyant, albeit somewhat sterile, selection of a dozen songs by this jazz vocal octet. Singing entirely in French on this collection, the group offers playful, lightweight material with intricate arrangements (mostly by Blossom Dearie, who was also a member) careful to balance male and female parts and high and low voices. Although this is 1950s jazz, it's definitely the poppier side of that form, though a hint of Latin influence comes into the picture with "Mambo Italiano." There's some swing to the music, but it's a polite type, of the sort that presents a wide and wholesome grin. The tracks will remind some listeners of the 1960s records of the Swingle Singers (who had considerable popular success in Europe), which is no coincidence, as the Blue Stars of France evolved into that group. ~ Richie Unterberger