Betty Roché - Singin' & Swingin'

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 30:35
Size: 71,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:52)  1. Come Rain or Come Shine
(3:40)  2. A Foggy Day
(3:57)  3. Day by Day
(3:21)  4. When I Fall in Love
(3:04)  5. Blue Moon
(2:59)  6. Where or When
(2:12)  7. September Song
(4:14)  8. Until the Real Thing Comes Along
(3:13)  9. Billie's Bounce

Betty Roché should have been much more famous. She had two barely documented periods with Duke Ellington's orchestra and recorded three excellent albums as a leader from 1956-1961 (all of which are available on Cd), but then faded away into complete obscurity. This reissue (which is mistakenly given the incorrect date of January 24, 1961, which was actually Roché's following release) matches the singer with tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest, organist Jack McDuff (near the beginning of his career), guitarist Bill Jennings, bassist Wendell Marshall, and drummer Roy Haynes. Roché performs nine famous standards, coming up with fresh variations in her phrasing to such numbers as "Come Rain or Come Shine," "When I Fall in Love," "Blue Moon," and "Billie's Bounce." Recommended, as are all of the other recordings in her slim discography.

~Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/singin-swingin-mw0000615285

Personnel: Betty Roché (vocals); Bill Jennings (guitar); Jimmy Forrest (tenor saxophone); Jack McDuff (organ); Roy Haynes (drums).

Singin' & Swingin' 

---

Betty Roché - Lightly And Politely

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1961
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:05
Size: 84,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:48)  1. Someone To Watch Over Me
(3:30)  2. Why Shouldn't I?
(4:35)  3. Jim
(3:52)  4. Polka Dots and Moonbeams
(2:43)  5. For All We Know
(4:13)  6. Rocks in My Bed
(2:42)  7. Just Squeeze Me
(3:44)  8. I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)
(3:39)  9. Maybe You'll Be There
(2:14) 10. I Had the Craziest Dream

It is ironic that what is arguably singer Betty Roché's finest all-around recording was also her last. For this session, which has been reissued in the OJC series on CD, Roché (backed by pianist Jimmy Neeley, guitarist Wally Richardson, bassist Michel Mulia, and drummer Rudy Lawless) improvises constantly and uplifts a variety of superior standards, including "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Polka Dots and Moonbeams," "I Had the Craziest Dream," and three songs by her former boss, Duke Ellington. It's recommended, particularly to jazz fans not aware of Betty Roché's musical talents. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/lightly-and-politely-mw0000619973

Personnel: Betty Roché (vocals); Wally Richardson (guitar); Jimmy Neely (piano); Rudy Lawless (drums).

Lightly And Politely

---

Betty Roché - Take The 'A' Train

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:33
Size: 95.1 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 1956/2014
Art: Front

[3:10] 1. Take The A Train
[4:00] 2. Something To Live For
[2:26] 3. In A Mellow Tone
[3:01] 4. Time After Time
[3:14] 5. Go Away Blues
[3:37] 6. Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man
[4:32] 7. Route 66
[3:45] 8. All My Life
[2:36] 9. I Just Got The Message Baby
[4:04] 10. All Too Soon
[3:15] 11. You Don't Love Me No More
[3:48] 12. September In The Rain

Conte Candoli/Trumpet; Eddie Costa/Vibraphone; Whitey Mitchell/Bass; Donn Trenner/Piano; Davey Williams/Drums; Betty Roche/Vocals.

This CD (put out by Evidence) brings back singer Betty Roché's definitive session. Although she had sung briefly with Duke Ellington on two occasions in 1943 and the early '50s, fame had eluded Roché. After this album she would record two more records (available in the Original Jazz Classics series) over the next few years and then disappear back into obscurity. Assisted by vibraphonist Eddie Costa, trumpeter Conte Candoli, pianist Donn Trenner, bassist Whitey Mitchell, and drummer Davey Williams, Roché is heard at her best on this set of standards. Highlights include a remake of "Take the 'A' Train" (she had previously recorded a classic version with Ellington), "Something to Live For," "Route 66," and "September in the Rain." Two additional versions of "Go Away Blues" round out the excellent release. ~Scott Yanow

Take The 'A' Train

---