Carmen McRae - Carmen Sings Monk (1988)(1990)

Artist: Carmen McRae
Title Of Album: Carmen Sings Monk
Year Of Release: 1988/1990
Label (Catalog#) : Novus, RCA [ PD83086]
Country:: USA
Genre: Vocal Jazz
Quality: FLAC (tracks+cue,log)
Bitrate: Lossless
Time: 66:02
Full Size: 401Mb(+3%)(covers)
Info:wiki

Thelonious Monk wrote some of the most eclectic and memorable tunes in modern music. Over the decades, many singers have sought to interpret the bop pianist’s angular melodies, but no-one has come as close to really nailing the Monk vibe on vocals quite like Carmen McRae. There was something about Carmen’s gravely sound that really fit when she sung Monk tunes… and in 1990, she released an acclaimed album featuring her interpretations of the Thelonious Monk canon. The album was simply called ‘Carmen Sings Monk’ – an ambitious date that saw Carmen source lyrics from the likes of Jon Hendricks, Sally Swisher and Mike Ferro. But what she did with those words and melodies was totally her own.

Carmen herself was an enigmatic vocalist, and when she put her spin on these standards, they took on a whole new sound. This release was recorded in 1988, but it didn’t come out until 1990, as the Monk estate wasn’t keen on the idea of a vocal tribute. To get around this, McRae retitled all the tunes… and when the album finally did drop, it became an instant classic… earning the singer a nomination at the Grammys that year. So… why don’t we give it a go… this is Carmen McRae at the mic… and ‘Carmen Sings Monk’.

Tracks:
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01. "Get It Straight" ("Straight, No Chaser") (Sally Swisher) – 3:58
02. "Dear Ruby" ("Ruby, My Dear") (Swisher) – 6:01
03. "It's Over Now" ("Well, You Needn't") (Mike Ferro) – 5:28
04. "Monkery's the Blues" ("Blue Monk") (Abbey Lincoln) – 4:56
05. "You Know Who" ("I Mean You") (Coleman Hawkins, Jon Hendricks) – 3:31
06. "Little Butterfly" ("Pannonica") (Hendricks) – 5:15
07. "Listen to Monk" ("Rhythm-a-Ning") (Hendricks) – 3:05
08. "How I Wish" ("Ask Me Now") (Hendricks) – 4:56
09. "Man, That Was a Dream" ("Monk's Dream") (Hendricks) – 2:55
10. "'Round Midnight" (Monk, Cootie Williams, Bernie Hanighen) – 6:32
11. "Still We Dream" ("Ugly Beauty") (Ferro) – 3:27
12. "Suddenly" ("In Walked Bud") (Hendricks) – 3:41
13. "Looking Back" ("Reflections") (Hendricks) – 5:35
14. "Suddenly" (In Walked Bud) (Hendricks) – 3:13
15. "Get It Straight" (Straight, No Chaser) (Sally Swisher) – 3:26

Personnel:
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Carmen McRae - vocals
Clifford Jordan - soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
Eric Gunnison - piano
George Mraz - double bass
Al Foster - drums
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Charlie Rouse - tenor saxophone(tr: 1,12)
Larry Willis - piano(tr: 1,12)

All thanks to original releaser