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Shirley Horn: With Friends
by Maurizio Zerbo
I dischi di Shirley Horn per la Verve hanno segnato per la cantante-pianista statunitense una seconda vita artistica, foriera di più ampi riconoscimenti. Questo doppio CD antologico enuclea alcuni degli episodi più rilevanti, dove lasciano il segno anche preziosi cammeo di Miles Davis, Joe Henderson, Toots Thielemans e Wynton Marsalis. In primo piano l'eterea sensualità del suo canto sussurrato, che dalle predilette formule in trio si apre soavemente ai timbri orchestrali di Johnny Mandell. Ne discende un percorso di grande ...
Continue ReadingShirley Horn: Shirley Horn Live at the 4 Queens
by C. Michael Bailey
“Horn did ballads and cool, understated ruminations better than anyone except her first champion, mentor and lifelong friend, trumpeter Miles Davis. Both were masters of silence and anticipation, but even Davis teased Horn about her pacing. 'You do 'em awful slow!' he once said.'" Richard Harrington, Washington Post. The incandescence that was Shirley Horn, and her central importance to jazz vocals, cannot be overstated. She was a master, like Miles Davis and Ahmad Jamal, at retaining ...
Continue ReadingShirley Horn Trio: Live At the 1994 Monterey Jazz Festival
by Joel Roberts
No jazz singer ever sang as softly and slowly and with such subtle command as Shirley Horn. Her voice often just above a whisper, she forced audiences to hush up and pay attention as she delivered lyrics without flash or pretense, but with a knowing sense of life lived and dues paid.
Three years to the month of her passing in 2005, it’s a gift for Horn’s devotees to have a chance to hear this collection ... Continue ReadingShirley Horn: Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz
by Andrew Rowan
An appearance on Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz radio broadcast often sheds light on unexplored aspects of an artist's career as the host conducts her intrepid, conversational interviews. Here, we have both illuminating conversation and Shirley Horn's musical essence: heartfelt ballad singing at crawling tempos, spot-on piano accompaniment, and deep-in-the-keys swing. Unless she knew you well, Horn could be a reluctant conversationalist. In this setting, though, she sheds some light on her career and musical philosophy, saying that ...
Continue ReadingShirley Horn: But Beautiful: The Best of Shirley Horn
by Woodrow Wilkins
Shirley Horn is a jazz diva who needs little introduction. This veteran of song is one of the classic vocalists of any era. But Beautiful gives us some classic recordings that highlight her career, as well as three bonus tracks recorded from a recent performance at the Au Bar in New York City. The first eleven tracks are from Horn's Verve Records catalogue, including I Thought About You and Loads of Love: Shirley Horn with Horns, which was originally released ...
Continue ReadingShirley Horn: But Beautiful: The Best of Shirley Horn
by Andrew Rowan
Dear Shirley Horn was laid to rest on November 3, 2005. A distinctive, emotional singer as well as brilliant pianist, Horn crafted an instantly recognizable style and a body of work that was often moving beyond words. While she's hailed far and wide as one of the finest ballads singers ever, this accolade alone misses the point. Horn was a complete musician. Few could swing harder, dig deeper, mine the blues so truly and, of course, live ...
Continue ReadingShirley Horn: No Regrets
by Tod Smith
It's 10pm on a Monday evening and I find myself anxiously dialing the front desk of a local hotel to talk to one of the true legends of jazz, Shirley Horn. I have to admit that I am more than just a bit nervous. First, it's Shirley Horn and second, it's ten o'clock. My friend, flutist Kent Jordan has arranged for me to conduct this interview, but I'm still worried that it is a bit late. He assured me that ...
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