Music Review:Chris Connor: Chris Connor Sings Gentle Bossa Nova ova

Article first published as Music Review: Chris Connor - Chris Connor Sings Gentle Bossa Nova on Blogcritics.

Back in the fifties when jazz vocalist Chris Connor was at her peak, it always seemed that like most of the other female singers of the period, she took a back seat to Ella Fitzgerald. It was as though there was Ella, and there was everyone else. Now while there is no question Ella Fitzgerald was a remarkable talent who deserved every accolade she received, Connor and others deserve some time out from under her shadow. This is not to say that the singer had no recognition in her day. Her records were best sellers and her appearances in legendary jazz clubs like Birdland and the Village Vanguard were sell outs. And although she made her share of TV appearances, she never quite achieved the mass appeal of Fitzgerald.

Perhaps that's why in 1965, after leaving her long term relationship with Atlantic Records, she would join with producer Kenny Greengrass and arrangers Pat Williams and later Don Sebesky to turn out a couple of albums with a pop flare much more likely to have an appeal to a larger audience. Unfortunately, if that were the intention, like many of the best laid plans, it didn’t quite pan out as hoped: for whatever reason the records never went very far. And that is doubly a shame, because they show the singer at her accessible best. Luckily of us the first of these, Chris Connor Sings Gentle Bossa Nova, is soon to be re-released by Just A Memory Records. Old timers will have the luxury of revisiting one of the great voices of their youth; youngsters will have the joy of discovery.

Connor's smooth styling and crystalline tone were made for the mellow dance rhythms of the bossa nova, the jazzy Brazilian import which was sweeping the country with the Stan Getz '64 recording of "The Girl From Ipanema" with the Astrud Gilberto vocal. Not only did the Latin transplant have pop cache, saxophone master Getz gave it jazz credibility as well. As repertoire for Connor it was a no brainer. Nearly all of the songs they chose for the album had been popular hits. There was a nice variety and Williams' arrangements swing. It should have been a smash, and even a cursory listen to the album today has to make you wonder why it wasn't.
The album opens with the Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night" and follows with the Petula Clark hit, "Downtown." There are tunes from Hollywood: "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte" from the Bette Davis, Olivia de Haviland horror flick and a really fine version of "The Shadow of Your Smile" from The Sandpiper. "Baby the Rain Must Fall," also from a film, is something of a disappointment with its chirpy arrangement, especially for anyone who remembers the drama of Glen Yarborough's recording. There are some show tunes including what for my money is the highlight of the album a smoky version of the classic "Feeling Good" that is as good as any you are likely to hear. Her sultry version of "A Taste of Honey," trumpeter Herb Alpert's instrumental hit, is another winner.

All in all, Chris Connor Sings Gentle Bossa Nova was an album that deserved a better fate. Lori Muscarelle, Connor's manager and partner, describes their disappointment that the beautiful piece of work Connor and Williams had produced "just got buried somewhere." This re-release should give it a real shot at resurrection.