Four Classic Albums Plus (Pick Yourself Up / Cool Heat / Incomparable / Waiter, Make Mine Blues)

Avid's second volume from the "incomparable" Miss Anita O'Day. Quotes from the original liner notes from all four of our selections more than do justice in describing this unique vocalist! From "Pick Yourself Up" ….."there was a time…..that I used to listen to all other singers and musicians…..I thought that was a good way of keeping up with….the music scene……..I feel that now I've got my own style and I don't want to be influenced….by what other people are doing" and ……"Anita herself is so vitally concerned with musicianship in her singing she is also a stickler for getting the best musicians and arrangements behind her". Here's a few she chose for this set….Barney Kessel, Ted Nash, Shelly Manne, Pete and Conte Candoli, Stan Getz, Bud Shank, Jimmy Guiffre and Jim Hall! From "Cool Heat"……….."by its very gentleness and supple lyricism, this is a unique Anita O'Day album. Her singing is no less ardent or swinging…..but for the first time in several years……..a whole program has been given over to …..her capacity to concentrate her emotion, to underplay, and to swing softly". From "Incomparable"……If improvisation is at the heart of jazz, then Anita O'Day is at the heart of vocal improvisation. Imaginative invention springs forth in a great stream, no matter what the tune or the tempo, resulting in jazz statements that are always exciting, always listenable, always musical and highly personal, placing her in a category all by herself". "There are imitators-and good ones-but the constant surprises, the relaxed, swinging air Anita exudes in her performances place her miles ahead of the competition" or in other words, as the album title suggests, "Incomparable"!! Finally from "Waiter, Make Mine Blues"……"Anita O'Day sounds like no other living singer ….she has won her fair share of polls and enjoyed her measure of public recognition. Most important of all, though, she has remained a musician at heart, and has always been respected by fellow musicians"
All four albums have been digitally re-mastered.