Various Artists - The Ultimate Diva Collection

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:06
Size: 137,5 MB
Art: Front

1. Ella Fitzgerald - How High The Moon (7:03)
2. Sarah Vaughan - Lullaby Of Birdland (3:59)
3. Dinah Washington - Teach Me Tonight (2:46)
4. Billie Holliday - Body And Soul (6:20)
5. Carmen McRae - You Took Advantage Of Me (2:37)
6. Anita O'Day - Peel Me A Grape (3:04)
7. Blossom Dearie - Someone To Watch Over Me (5:58)
8. Nina Simone - Love Me Or Leave Me (4:05)
9. Shirley Horn - Come Dance With Me (2:51)
10. Gloria Lynne - I'm Gonna Laugh You Out Of My Life (2:56)
11. Astrud Gilberto - Fly Me To The Moon (2:20)
12. Peggy Lee - I Don't Know Enough About You (2:58)
13. Etta James - A Sunday Kind Of Love (3:17)
14. Natalie Cole - It's Crazy (2:11)
15. Helen Merrill - You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (4:19)
16. Ernestine Anderson - It Don't Mean A Thing (If Ain't Got That Swing) (2:15)

Verve's Ultimate Diva Collection: The Diva Series rounds up tracks by 16 of the singers who have recorded for the label (or one of the labels the Verve Group now distributes) at some point in their career. The line-up reads like a who's who of vocal jazz: legends like Dinah Washington, Peggy Lee and Carmen McRae rub shoulders with less-acclaimed yet still diva- worthy singers like Ernestine Anderson, Blossom Dearie, and the always fabulous Shirley Horn.

Throw in a few wild cards like Etta James and Astrud Gilberto, and the results become nearly definitive. There are a plethora of classic songs from the '50s and '60s (and '90s in Shirley Horn's case) here too. Ella Fitzgerald's "How High the Moon," Sarah Vaughan's "Lullaby of Birdland," Helen Merrill's "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," and Billie Holiday's "Body and Soul" are just a few of the best. Except for the questionable inclusion of Natalie Cole's 2001 recording of "It's Crazy," every song here is a vocal jazz classic.

Of course all this classicism wouldn't mean much if the artists and songs were just thrown together haphazardly, but Verve has done a fine job of constructing a collection that flows like a cool, clean stream, and can easily be recommended to anyone looking for a swinging introduction to jazz vocals. Fans of the genre will find it quite worthwhile as well. By Tim Sendra
https://www.allmusic.com/album/ultimate-diva-collection-the-diva-series-mw0000030332

The Ultimate Diva Collection

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Sarah Vaughan - The Diva Series

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:16
Size: 117,4 MB
Art: Front

(2:37) 1. How High The Moon
(5:15) 2. Cheek To Cheek
(2:59) 3. Misty
(2:34) 4. Old Devil Moon
(2:47) 5. Shake Down The Stars
(3:40) 6. A Sinner Kissed An Angel
(2:26) 7. It's Got To Be Love
(2:32) 8. Just One Of Those Things
(2:34) 9. I'll Never Smile Again
(2:40) 10. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
(2:07) 11. What Is This Thing Called Love?
(4:33) 12. Words Can't Describe
(3:26) 13. Shiny Stockings
(2:21) 14. I Want To Be Happy
(3:11) 15. Tenderly
(4:26) 16. Every Day I Have The Blues

Possessor of one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century, Sarah Vaughan ranked with Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday in the very top echelon of female jazz singers. She often gave the impression that with her wide range, perfectly controlled vibrato, and wide expressive abilities, she could do anything she wanted with her voice. Although not all of her many recordings are essential (give Vaughan a weak song and she might strangle it to death), Sarah Vaughan's legacy as a performer and a recording artist will be very difficult to match in the future.

Vaughan sang in church as a child and had extensive piano lessons from 1931-39; she developed into a capable keyboardist. After she won an amateur contest at the Apollo Theater, she was hired for the Earl Hines big band as a singer and second vocalist. Unfortunately, the musicians' recording strike kept her off record during this period (1943-44). When lifelong friend Billy Eckstine broke away to form his own orchestra, Vaughan joined him, making her recording debut. She loved being with Eckstine's orchestra, where she became influenced by a couple of his sidemen, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, both of whom had also been with Hines during her stint. Vaughan was one of the first singers to fully incorporate bop phrasing in her singing, and to have the vocal chops to pull it off on the level of a Parker and Gillespie.

Other than a few months with John Kirby from 1945-46, Sarah Vaughan spent the remainder of her career as a solo star. Although she looked a bit awkward in 1945 (her first husband George Treadwell would greatly assist her with her appearance), there was no denying her incredible voice. She made several early sessions for Continental: a December 31, 1944 date highlighted by her vocal version of "A Night in Tunisia," which was called "Interlude," and a May 25, 1945 session for that label that had Gillespie and Parker as sidemen. However, it was her 1946-48 selections for Musicraft (which included "If You Could See Me Now," "Tenderly" and "It's Magic") that found her rapidly gaining maturity and adding bop-oriented phrasing to popular songs. Signed to Columbia where she recorded during 1949-53, "Sassy" continued to build on her popularity. Although some of those sessions were quite commercial, eight classic selections cut with Jimmy Jones' band during May 18-19, 1950 (an octet including Miles Davis) showed that she could sing jazz with the best.

During the 1950s, Vaughan recorded middle-of-the-road pop material with orchestras for Mercury, and jazz dates (including Sarah Vaughan, a memorable collaboration with Clifford Brown) for the label's subsidiary, EmArcy. Later record label associations included Roulette (1960-64), back with Mercury (1963-67), and after a surprising four years off records, Mainstream (1971-74). Through the years, Vaughan's voice deepened a bit, but never lost its power, flexibility or range. She was a masterful scat singer and was able to out-swing nearly everyone (except for Ella).
Vaughan was with Norman Granz's Pablo label from 1977-82, and only during her last few years did her recording career falter a bit, with only two forgettable efforts after 1982. However, up until near the end, Vaughan remained a world traveler, singing and partying into all hours of the night with her miraculous voice staying in prime form. The majority of her recordings are currently available, including complete sets of the Mercury/Emarcy years, and Sarah Vaughan is as famous today as she was during her most active years.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sarah-vaughan-mn0000204901/biography

The Diva Series

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Nina Simone - The Diva Series

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:38
Size: 136,3 MB
Art: Front

(2:35) 1. I Put A Spell On You
(3:08) 2. He Ain't Comin' Home No More
(2:31) 3. I Loves You, Porgy
(4:56) 4. Mississippi Goddam
(3:10) 5. Tell Me More And More And Then Some
(4:06) 6. Love Me Or Leave Me
(2:37) 7. See-Line Woman
(6:59) 8. Wild Is The Wind
(4:26) 9. Four Women
(3:08) 10. Don't You Pay Them No Mind
(4:15) 11. Lilac Wine
(2:46) 12. Either Way I Lose
(2:45) 13. The Gal From Joe's
(4:21) 14. Don't Explain
(4:03) 15. I Love My Baby
(2:44) 16. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

Nina Simone spent time recording with Verve or the associated Philips during the mid-'60s, so her entry in the label's 2003 The Diva Series focuses on that period, when she had an R&B hit with "I Put a Spell on You" and recorded many live albums. Though it is much longer than Verve's previous attempts, it certainly doesn't qualify as a solid compilation of Simone's career.

A few career-defining songs like "I Loves You, Porgy" are presented in live versions which, fine as they are, don't rate with the studio recordings. For what it is, The Diva Series is a solid label wrap-up, including rarer material like "Wild Is the Wind" as well as a few classics like "Mississippi Goddam" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood." By John Bush
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-diva-series-mw0000027107

The Diva Series

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Dinah Washington - The Diva Series

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:38
Size: 129,9 MB
Art: Front

( 2:08) 1. If I Were A Bell
( 2:23) 2. You Do Something To Me
( 2:30) 3. What A Difference A Day Made
( 2:19) 4. Sometimes I'm Happy
( 2:39) 5. Caravan
( 2:47) 6. Teach Me Tonight
(10:57) 7. Blue Skies
( 5:22) 8. I've Got You Under My Skin
( 3:04) 9. Invitation
( 2:59) 10. Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby?
( 2:37) 11. Nothing Ever Changes My Love For You
( 2:53) 12. Bargain Day
( 3:22) 13. Goodbye
( 3:25) 14. Perdido
( 2:09) 15. There'll Be A Jubilee
( 3:57) 16. I'll Close My Eyes

Dinah Washington has a lot in common with another fine singer Carmen McRae, they were both tough cookies who you didn’t mess with, they were both divas in the true meaning of the word and both played piano. The other thing that they shared, was the misfortune of being around at the same time as Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan!

This CD gives an excellent feel for the outstanding talents of Ms Washington, although regarded as a blues singer by some, she was much more than that. This album demonstrates her ability across a wide range of settings from big band to small jazz group and she excels in all of them. There is also some fine jazz solos, listen to the trumpets on Under My Skin.

The opening track, If I Were A Bell gives notice of the excitement to follow. Dinah had everything, perfect diction, perfect intonation, a wonderful jazz feel and the ability to turn every song into something special, listen to her interpretation of Invitation as an example. Even the jokey, Is You Is, is made into something far from ordinary. The Quincey Jones Arrangements helps a lot as well with Milt Hinton’s bass laying down a good line and a fine trombone solo (Quentin Jackson?).

Some of these tracks were no doubt made with a view to the Top 20 of the day, if it were the same today, I would be a ‘Top of the Pops’ man! Bargain Day is new to me, but again Dinah delivers and the song turns into something special again.

Perdido is another swinging Quincey Jones arrangement, beautifully played by his band. There are also short, but interesting solos from muted trumpet and alto. Dinah’s timing on this track is very reminiscent of Ella on ‘The Song Books’. Jubilee has some nice alto from Cannonball Adderley and this track is another real swinger. The unaccompanied verse on Close My Eyes is a real gem.

Unless you own most of the original albums these tracks come from, this is a must buy CD. Dinah Washington only lived to be 39, which is not long enough; such a talent should have been spared. By Don Mather
http://www.musicweb-international.com/jazz/2003/sept03/dinah_washington.htm

The Diva Series

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Carmen McRae - The Diva Series

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:25
Size: 119,7 MB
Art: Front

(2:13) 1. Falling In Love With You
(3:49) 2. I Only Have Eyes For You
(3:10) 3. Speak Low
(4:15) 4. Midnight Sun
(2:24) 5. I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket
(2:30) 6. How Little We Know
(3:03) 7. Skylark
(4:16) 8. My Man's Gone Now
(2:46) 9. Comes Love
(2:25) 10. All The Things You Are
(3:19) 11. Ain't Misbehavin'
(2:53) 12. Do You Know Why?
(3:27) 13. Bye Bye Blackbird
(3:09) 14. Any Old Time
(3:45) 15. That Old Devil Moon
(3:53) 16. I'm Glad There Is You

If you are making a shortlist of the best jazz singers, Carmen McRae had better be right at the top. She had a distinctive voice, able to do heartbreaking and lighthearted equally as thrillingly. She had an unerring sense of melody and her phrasing is a thing of beauty. This collection covers her work in the mid-'50s for Decca both with small groups and larger orchestras.

She shines on swinging tracks like "Comes Love," "Falling in Love With Love," and "I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket" and won't leave a dry eye in the house with her deeply emotional ballad singing. "Do You Know Why," "Midnight Sun," and the achingly beautiful "I'm Glad There Is You" are prime examples of McRae's way with a ballad.

Each of the 16 tracks here is like a primer on how to be a vocalist, jazz or otherwise. McRae's entry in Verve's Diva Series is a fine introduction to her 1950s recordings. by Tim Sendra
https://www.allmusic.com/album/diva-mw0000026453

The Diva Series

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Blossom Dearie - The Diva Series

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:50
Size: 120,9 MB
Art: Front

(2:49) 1. I'm Hip
(3:12) 2. Our Love Is Here To Stay
(4:13) 3. I Walk A Little Faster
(2:58) 4. Dance Only With Me
(2:15) 5. You For Me
(2:13) 6. Rhode Island Is Famous For You
(3:11) 7. Blossom's Blues
(4:19) 8. It Amazes Me
(5:59) 9. Someone To Watch Over Me
(3:45) 10. They Say It's Spring
(2:50) 11. It's Love
(2:51) 12. Always True To You In My Fashion
(2:27) 13. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
(2:45) 14. Once Upon A Summertime
(2:31) 15. Plus Je T'Embrasse
(3:25) 16. When In Rome

Blossom Dearie's time spent with Verve during the late '50s resulted in several albums of great music, and her entry in the label's 2003 The Diva Series is one of the better single-disc wrap-ups of her career. This one is much longer than Verve's previous attempts; it also does a good job of compiling most of her best moments, including "I'm Hip," "Blossom's Blues," and "Always True to You in My Fashion."

It certainly isn't perfect, though; notable exclusions like "'Deed I Do," "I Won't Dance," "It Might as Well Be Spring," and "Give Him the Ooh-La-La" make this a tough one to recommend for beginners. (It may well have been intentional, in order to give more space for a focus on her Verve material that has remained unissued on CD.) By John Bush
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-diva-mw0000595314

The Diva Series

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Billie Holiday - The Diva Series

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:12
Size: 135,6 MB
Art: Front

(2:50) 1. Them There Eyes
(2:45) 2. Gimme A Pigfoot And A Bottle Of Bear
(3:12) 3. Easy Living
(3:24) 4. Don't Explain
(3:09) 5. Billie's Blues
(2:36) 6. Love Me Or Leave Me
(5:32) 7. Just One Of Those Things
(3:30) 8. Good Morning Heartache
(4:27) 9. Speak Low
(5:41) 10. All Or Nothing At All
(3:13) 11. Strange Fruit
(4:00) 12. God Bless The Child
(3:27) 13. I Wished On The Moon
(3:13) 14. What A Little Moonlight Can Do
(3:19) 15. Fine And Mellow
(3:46) 16. Lady Sings The Blues

Part of Verve's Diva Series of compilations, this Billie Holiday collection is by no means the definitive account of her career Columbia's Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday takes that honor. That said, it is still a great introduction to the vocalist's singular and influential style. There is a timely flow to the track listing on most of the Diva Series albums, and this collection is no exception.

Included are such landmark recordings as "Don't Explain," "God Bless the Child," and Holiday's haunting signature tune, "Strange Fruit." Longtime Holiday fanatics will most likely already have these recordings, but for newly interested listeners, at over 14 tracks, this competes well with other similar single-disc collections. by Matt Collar
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-diva-mw0000026452

The Diva Series

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Astrud Gilberto - The Diva Series

Styles: Vocal, Bossa Nova
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:39
Size: 139,7 MB
Art: Front

(2:19) 1. Agua de Beber
(1:51) 2. Bim Bom
(3:39) 3. Tu Mi Delirio
(5:24) 4. The Girl From Ipanema
(2:42) 5. On My Mind
(2:38) 6. Misty Roses
(1:56) 7. Manha de Carnival
(2:25) 8. Non-Stop To Brazil
(2:55) 9. I Haven't Got Anything Better To Do
(4:14) 10. Corcovado (Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars)
(2:26) 11. Eu e Voce (Me And You)
(2:24) 12. The Gentle Rain
(2:39) 13. So Nice (Summer Samba)
(2:24) 14. Berimbau
(3:05) 15. Once Upon A Summertime
(3:12) 16. All That's Left Is To Say Goodbye
(2:42) 17. Dindi
(2:41) 18. Stay
(1:34) 19. Canoeiro
(3:09) 20. A Certain Sadness
(3:06) 21. Canto de Ossanha (Let Go)

Astrud Gilberto, the Brazilian canary with the voice like honey and diction that defied belief, has been compiled many times on Verve, but rarely as well as on her entry in 2003's The Diva Series.

A 21-track of her prime decade, the '60s, this one includes all of the classics associated with her: "The Girl From Ipanema," "Agua de Beber," "Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars)," "So Nice (Summer Samba)," and "Dindi." Not all of her LPs have been reissued on CD (in the States), so the compilers also added tracks that may surprise a few Gilberto fans, like "Eu e Voce" and "Canto de Ossanha (Let Go)." By John Bush https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-diva-mw0000595313

The Diva Series

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Anita O'Day - The Diva Series

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:33
Size: 131,5 MB
Art: Front

(2:32) 1. What Is This Thing Called Love?
(2:16) 2. Ten Cents A Dance
(3:21) 3. Waiter, Make Mine Blues
(4:19) 4. Bewitched, Bothered, And Bewildered
(3:49) 5. Tea For Two
(3:14) 6. Honeysuckle Rose
(2:34) 7. Love Me Or Leave Me
(3:01) 8. It Shouldn't Happen To A Dream
(4:02) 9. Miss Brown To You
(2:23) 10. I Get I Kick Out Of You
(3:15) 11. Let's Face The Music And Dance
(3:05) 12. Peel Me A Grape
(3:39) 13. Angel Eyes
(3:26) 14. Crazy He Calls Me
(2:56) 15. Whisper Not
(2:46) 16. Senor Blues
(3:32) 17. Sing, Sing, Sing
(2:14) 18. Avalon

One of the best pairings of an artist with a label since Frank Sinatra swung into the Capitol offices, Anita O'Day's time under the Verve umbrella (also including Clef and Norgran) resulted in some of the best pop music of her era.

O'Day's entry in 2003's The Diva Series is one of the better single-disc wrap-ups of her time on Verve, though the scarcity of hits while she was there and the near-uniform excellence of her '50s LPs still preclude anyone from recommending a compilation to any but newcomers.

Still, this one is much longer than Verve's previous attempts; it also balances songs from her rarer early-'60s dates with her '50s prime, and ably compiles some of her best-known material ("What Is This Thing Called Love," "Honeysuckle Rose," "Tea for Two") as well as a few of her hardest-swingers ("Love Me or Leave Me," "I Get a Kick out of You," "Let's Face the Music and Dance").

Much better than Compact Jazz, but nowhere near as revelatory as her late-'50s classics Anita Sings the Most or Anita O'Day Swings Cole Porter With Billy May. By John Bush
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-diva-mw0000595312

The Diva Series

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