Barbara Lea - Remembering Lee Wiley

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1978
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:41
Size: 167,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:45)  1. I Left My Sugar Standing in the Rain
(2:56)  2. Soft Lights and Sweet Music
(5:08)  3. Time on My Hands
(3:57)  4. Easy to Love
(3:54)  5. This Is New
(2:05)  6. I'll Follow My Secret Heart
(4:27)  7. Chicken Today and Feathers Tomorrow
(3:34)  8. Oh! Loot at Me Now!
(3:19)  9. Down to Steamboat, Tennessee
(3:21) 10. Someone to Watch over Me
(3:16) 11. Sugar
(2:59) 12. A Ship Without a Sail
(2:29) 13. Let's Fall in Love
(3:53) 14. Fun to Be Fooled
(3:33) 15. Supper Time
(1:08) 16. Anytime, Anyday, Anywhere
(3:24) 17. Who Can I Turn To
(2:52) 18. I've Got the World on a String
(2:25) 19. Wherever There's Love
(3:06) 20. Fools Fall in Love
(2:22) 21. I've Got a Crush on You
(3:36) 22. Basin Street Blues

Lee Wiley has long been one of Barbara Lea's idols, so her tribute to the swing-era singer is heartfelt and full of sympathy. Lea recorded 11 songs in 1976 and three in 1977 using a trio led by pianist Loonis McGlohon, with guest spots for clarinetist Bob Mitchell. When the music was being made ready for its CD reissue in 1995, Lea got together with McGlohon and a different rhythm section (plus Randy Reinhart on trumpet and trombone) to cut eight more songs. Although Lea lacks Wiley's quiet intensity and understated sensuality, she does an excellent job throughout the ballad-oriented set; highlights include "I Left My Sugar Standing in the Rain," "Time On My Hands," "Down to Steamboat Tennessee," "Sugar" and "Wherever There's Love." ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/remembering-lee-wiley-mw0000527543

Personnel: Barbara Lea (vocals); Bob Mitchell (clarinet); Randy Reinhart (trumpet, trombone); Loonis McGlohon (piano); Tony Cooper (drums).

Remembering Lee Wiley

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Benny Carter - Benny Carter Songbook Vol II

Styles: Saxophone Jazz 
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:04
Size: 174,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:26)  1. My Mind Is Still On You - Joe Williams
(5:10)  2. Echo Of My Dream - Dianna Krall
(6:00)  3. Rock Me To Sleep - Ruth Brown
(4:04)  4. Stop Me Before I Fall In Love Again - Billy Stritch
(8:33)  5. He Doesn't Need Me Now - Nancy Marano
(6:05)  6. Doozy - Jon Hendricks
(5:10)  7. Nevermore - Billy Stritch
(7:05)  8. Malibu - Lainie Kazan
(5:53)  9. Blue Moonlight - Marlena Shaw
(5:30) 10. Evening Star - Kenny Rankin
(4:46) 11. Slow Carousel - Nancy Marano
(4:05) 12. Whisper To One - Barbara Lea
(5:56) 13. I'm The Caring Kind - Weslia Whitfield
(4:16) 14. When Hilma Smiles

The 1997 release of this CD helped Benny Carter celebrate his 90th birthday, featuring 14 of his original ballads by a dozen guests, in addition to a warm tribute to his wife of many years, "When Hilma Smiles," sung by Carter himself in a friendly, unpretentious manner. His smooth alto sax hasn't lost anything over the decades, and the top-notch cornet of Warren Vaché is also a nice touch. 

The highlights among the guest vocalists' contributions include Nancy Marano's emotional version of "He Doesn't Need Me Now" and Wesla Whitfield's sassy take of "I'm the Caring Kind." ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/songbook-vol-2-mw0000028108

Personnel: Benny Carter (vocals, alto saxophone); Joe Williams, Weslia Whitfield, Ruth Brown, Billy Stritch, Nancy Marano, Jon Hendricks, Lainie Kazan, Marlena Shaw, Kenny Rankin, Barbara Lea, Diana Krall (vocals); Warren Vache (cornet); Chris Neville (piano); Steve LaSpina (bass); Sherman Ferguson, Roy McCurdy (drums)

Benny Carter Songbook Vol II

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Barbara Lea, Keith Ingham - Fine and Dandy

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:16
Size: 155,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:32) 1. Mah Lindy Lou
(3:42) 2. When in Rome
(4:27) 3. Fine and Dandy
(2:30) 4. I Dream Too Much
(4:59) 5. Killing Time / One Second Thought
(3:12) 6. Blue Again
(3:20) 7. Come to Baby, Do
(3:48) 8. How High the Moon
(3:09) 9. Walking by the River
(3:02) 10. Pettin' and Pokin'
(2:43) 11. Love Is a Simple Thing
(3:27) 12. My Silent Love
(2:39) 13. I'd Rather Call You Baby
(4:22) 14. The Morning After
(3:36) 15. Just a Little Lovin'
(3:48) 16. Lost in a Fog
(2:53) 17. How Little We Know
(4:01) 18. Lullaby of the Leaves
(2:57) 19. Pick Yourself Up

Vocalist Barbara Lea thought that women songwriters (both composers and lyricists) have never gotten sufficient exposure for their overall contributions, so she decided to devote an entire CD to works by women songwriters. Accompanied by the talented pianist Keith Ingham, Lea explores songs from several decades, both familiar and obscure. Lea has been singing for decades, yet has been unjustly overlooked. Yet her pitch is still right on the money over five decades after her debut. Lily Strickland composed "Mah Lindy Lou," a now overlooked gem from the 1920s, as Lea sings it with a simple elegance, backed by Ingham's quietly striding piano. One of the best known songs heard on this disc is Kay Swift's hit "Fine and Dandy," taken at a leisurely tempo by Lea, who also restores the frequently omitted verse.

Bernice Petkere's "Lullaby of the Leaves" has long been popular with instrumentalists, though singers tend to overlook it; Lea savors ever word of Joe Young's lyrics. Ella Fitzgerald is probably the best known performer of hundreds of vocalists and instrumentalist to record "How High the Moon," but Lea comfortably makes it her own, once again restoring the omitted verse before delivering a warm rendition at a relaxed tempo. The playfulness of pianist Una Mae Carlisle's "Walking by the River" suggests the influence of Fats Waller. But the most hilarious track is Lora Lee's lively "Pettin' and Pokin'," a wild romp about a noisy couple. Every track is of interest and it would make sense for Barbara Lea and Keith Ingham to record a similar songbook representing similar songwriters whose work is not represented on this excellent CD.~Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/fine-and-dandy-mr0001606371

Personnel: Vocals – Barbara Lea; Piano – Keith Ingham

Fine and Dandy

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Barbara Lea - Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?

Size: 113,5 MB
Time: 48:17
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2006
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Dixieland
Art: Front

01. Doctor Jazz (2:50)
02. A Ghost Of A Chance (6:12)
03. Moon-Faced Starry-Eyed (3:12)
04. My Dreams Are Getting Better All The Time (2:45)
05. Shimme-She-Wabble (6:15)
06. My Ideal (3:53)
07. Jazz Me Blues (3:06)
08. You Took Advantage Of Me (4:50)
09. I Never Knew (4:20)
10. I Couldn't Sleep A Wink Last Night (3:13)
11. No Moon At All (3:04)
12. Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans (4:32)

An excellent singer who was associated with swing and Dixieland, Barbara Lea never broke through with the general public, but she recorded quite a few worthy albums. She sang with Detroit dance orchestras while in school, performed with the college jazz band (the Crimson Stompers) at Harvard, and worked on the East Coast in the 1950s. She recorded for Riverside (1955) and Prestige (1956-1957), using such sidemen as trumpeter Johnny Windhurst and pianists Billy Taylor and Dick Hyman. In the 1960s, Lea worked as a stage actress and taught. In the 1970s, she sang with Dick Sudhalter and Ed Polcer and recorded in the 1980s for Audiophile, including a tribute to her idol and influence, Lee Wiley. She continued to perform and record into the 21st century, and died of Alzheimer's disease in December 2011 at age 82. ~by Scott Yanow

Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?

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Barbara Lea - The Devil Is Afraid Of Music

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:48
Size: 123.2 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 1977/2014
Art: Front

[1:46] 1. The Devil Is Afraid Of Music (1927)
[2:32] 2. Don't Smoke In Bed
[2:33] 3. Deep Summer
[3:10] 4. Think Well Of Me
[4:29] 5. Born To The Bayou
[2:56] 6. Run For The Roundhouse, Nellie
[3:19] 7. Guess I'll Go Back Home (This Summer)
[2:47] 8. Lonely Acres
[4:51] 9. Deep Elm (You Tell 'em I'm Blue)
[1:47] 10. Peaceful Valley
[3:52] 11. A Woman Alone With The Blues
[3:17] 12. A Cottage For Sale
[2:32] 13. 'tain't So, Honey, 'tain't So
[3:16] 14. Old Folks
[3:28] 15. Little High Chairman
[2:33] 16. My Egotism Is Hurtin' Me
[2:39] 17. 'round My Old Deserted Farm
[1:53] 18. The Devil Is Afraid Of Music (1950)

Bass – Mel Alexander; Clarinet – Bob Mitchell; Drums – Tony Cooper; Piano – Loonis McGlohon.

Willard Robison was one of the more underrated songwriters, whose wistful melodies, unexpected chord changes, and nostalgic lyrics (which often yearned for a earlier simpler time) were actually quite charming. On this CD reissue, singer Barbara Lea is joined by a rhythm section headed by pianist Loonis McGlohon in 1976 (clarinetist Bob Mitchell sits in on one song), and on five equally rewarding numbers recorded in 1992 with pianist Dick Cary, guitarist Dave Koonse, and bassist Putter Smith. (The latter were recorded so as to bolster the playing time of the CD.) Lea, whose basic and lightly swinging style perfectly fits this music, performs such numbers as "Think Well of Me," "Guess I'll Go Back Home," "Deep Elm," "A Woman Alone with the Blues," and Robison's three best-known songs: "A Cottage for Sale," "'Tain't So, Honey, 'Tain't So," and "Old Folks." A perfect project. ~Scott Yanow

The Devil Is Afraid Of Music

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Barbara Lea - Lea In Love

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 36:00

Size: 82.4 MB

Styles: Vocal jazz

Year: 1956/1990

Art: Front

[3:48] 1. Will I Find My Love Today

[2:03] 2. We Could Make Such Beautiful Music Together

[3:21] 3. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To

[2:02] 4. Am I In Love

[3:08] 5. The Very Thought Of You

[2:14] 6. I've Got My Eyes On You

[2:57] 7. True Love

[2:20] 8. Mountain Greenery

[4:40] 9. More Than You Know

[2:42] 10. Ain't Misbehavin'

[3:19] 11. Autumn Leaves

[3:21] 12. Sleep Peaceful, Mr. Used-To-Be

Bass – Al Hall; Drums – Osie Johnson; Guitar – Al Casamenti; Horn [Alto Horn] – Dick Cary; Piano – Dick Cary, Jimmy Lyons; Trumpet, Leader – Johnny Windhurst; Vocals – Barbara Lea.

Singer Barbara Lea often recalls her idol and friend Lee Wiley on this set of love songs. The backup is uniformly tasteful but changes from song to song with such impressive stylists as trumpeter Johnny Windhurst, baritonist Ernie Caceres, Garvin Bushell (on oboe and bassoon), Dick Cary (the arranger on piano and alto horn), guitarist Jimmy Raney and (on a beautiful version of "True Love") harpist Adele Girard making memorable appearances. Lea's straightforward and heartfelt delivery is heard at its best on such songs as "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," "Mountain Greenery," "More than You Know" and "Autumn Leaves" (which is partly taken in French). These interpretations are often touching. ~Scott Yanow

Lea in Love

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Barbara Lea - A Woman In Love

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:02
Size: 100.8 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 1957/1991
Art: Front

[4:57] 1. I'm Old Fashioned
[4:23] 2. Too Late Now
[4:00] 3. Come Rain Or Come Shine
[2:25] 4. As Long As I Live
[4:07] 5. Love Is Here To Stay
[2:38] 6. Thinking Of You
[4:19] 7. I See Your Face Before Me
[3:15] 8. I Didn't Know About You
[2:25] 9. Love Me
[3:36] 10. What Is There To Say
[2:46] 11. The Best Thing For You
[5:07] 12. A Woman Alone With The Blues

Singer Barbara Lea often recalls her idol and friend Lee Wiley on this set of love songs. The backup is uniformly tasteful but changes from song to song with such impressive stylists as trumpeter Johnny Windhurst, baritonist Ernie Caceres, Garvin Bushell (on oboe and bassoon), Dick Cary (the arranger on piano and alto horn), guitarist Jimmy Raney and (on a beautiful version of "True Love") harpist Adele Girard making memorable appearances. Lea's straightforward and heartfelt delivery is heard at its best on such songs as "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," "Mountain Greenery," "More than You Know" and "Autumn Leaves" (which is partly taken in French). These interpretations are often touching. ~Scott Yanow

A Woman In Love

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Ellis Larkins, Marshall Barer, Barbara Lea - Pousse-Cafe

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:22
Size: 117.6 MB
Styles: Musicals
Year: 1992
Art: Front

[7:50] 1. Pousse-Cafe Overture
[3:12] 2. Take Love Easy
[3:28] 3. Pousse Cafe
[2:46] 4. Let's
[3:09] 5. C'est Comme Ça
[2:22] 6. Fleugel Street Rag
[2:47] 7. Someone To Care For
[1:47] 8. Thank You, Ma'am
[1:33] 9. Up Your Ante
[1:08] 10. Be A Man
[3:27] 11. The Spider And The Fly
[2:31] 12. The Swivel
[2:17] 13. My Heart Is A Stranger
[2:44] 14. C'est Comme Ça
[2:37] 15. Goodbye, Charlie
[3:03] 16. Settle For Less
[1:49] 17. Follow Me Up The Stairs
[2:43] 18. If I Knew Now (What I Knew Then)

Music from failed Ellington Broadway musical. This one, a New Orleans version of The Blue Angel, closed after three performances in 1966. On this 1990s revival for CD, a small band led by Ellis Larkins is fronted by vocalists Marshall Barer (also the original lyricist) and Barbara Lea. I like the title song. ~Matthew Asprey Gear

Pousse-Cafe

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The Legendary Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band - Singin' The Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:28
Size: 156.8 MB
Styles: Dixieland
Year: 1991
Art: Front

[7:00] 1. Singin' The Blues (Till My Baby Comes Home)
[5:26] 2. Louisiana
[6:25] 3. Blue Turning Grey Over You
[4:41] 4. I Want To Be Happy
[4:45] 5. The Sheik Of Araby
[5:48] 6. Thou Swell
[7:36] 7. Song Of The Islands
[5:15] 8. Stumbling
[8:26] 9. Tin Roof Blues
[4:47] 10. Muskrat Ramble
[3:56] 11. One Alone
[4:17] 12. Hindustan

Recorded Mar. 5 and 6, 1990 in Atlanta, Georgia. 12 tracks recorded 1990 by The Legendary Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band with Yank Lawson, trumpet, co-leader ; Joe Muranyi, clarinet, soprano saxophone; Bucky Pizzarelli, guitar; George Masso, trombone; John Bunch, piano; Bob Haggart, string bass, co-leader; Jake Hanna, drums; Barbara Lea, vocals.

Veteran trumpeter Yank Lawson often preferred to trade fours or eights with another horn player late in his career (four years before his death) rather than take full-length solos, but his fire and sound were very much unimpaired. For this date, he had a reunion with bassist Bob Haggart, coleading one of the last versions of the Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band.

Singin' The Blues

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