Joe Derise on Bethlehem

Lounge singers are all but forgotten today. Some might say deservedly so, but that would be unfair. The best lounge singers in the '50s were exceptional vocalists and frequently accompanied themselves on piano, guitar or accordion. The term lounge singer originally referred to those who entertained in a small bar or room adjacent to or near the larger showroom at major hotels and resorts where marquee performers were appearing. Lounge rooms tended to be relaxed environments, and lounge singers had intimate voices to suit the setting. They tended to have great taste in music and specialized in superb, moody songs most people didn't know but should. These singers were more interested in setting a tranquil mood than showing off. You went to hear them if you were on a date or it was late and you were having one for the road.

At the top of the pack were artists such as Matt Dennis, Paige Cavanaugh, Barbara Carroll, Bobby Troup, the Mary Kaye Trio, Frank D'Rone, Pat Moran, Blossom Dearie and so on. You get the picture. Included in this group was Joe Derise, whose voice was jazzy but tissue-soft. A multi-instrumentalist, Derise played guitar in Claude Thornhill's band in the late 1940s and became the lead singer and arranger for Thornhill's Snowflakes vocal group. He also sang with Tommy Dorsey.

At the start of the 1950s, Derise formed Four Jacks and a Jill, appearing regularly on early TV variety shows. After the group disbanded in 1953, he was signed to Bethlehem Records by Creed Taylor (above), who was in his first job as producer. For the label, Derise recorded Joe Derise Sings and Joe Derise With the Australian Jazz Quintet. Derise had a knack for finding knockout ballads that he delivered beautifully.

On Joe Derise: The Complete Bethlehem Collection, the best tracks are the sleepers, such as Once I Believed, More and More, Once in a Dream, The Charm of You and Spring in Old New York. On the album Joe Derise Sings, Derise was backed by bassist Milt Hinton and drummer Osie Johnson. On the Australian Jazz Quintet, he was backed by Dick Healey (cl,as,fl), Errol Buddle (ts,bassoon), Jack Brokensha (vib), Bryce Rohde (p), Jimmy Gannon (b) and Nick Stabulas (d), who was American.

Joe Derise died in 2002.

JazzWax tracks: Here's Once I Believed from Joe Derise With the Australian Jazz Quintet...



Here's Spring in Old New York from the same album...



And here's Mountain Greenery from Joe Derise Sings...