Hottest New Group in Jazz [Compilation]

Read About This Recording

Major jazz vocal groups have always been rare. The 1930s featured the Boswell Sisters and the Mills Brothers and in much more recent times the Manhattan Transfer and Take Six have impressed audiences. However, few vocal groups have ever reached the creative heights of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross.

During 1957-62, Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross made for a formidable team of singers. Lambert had helped to pioneer bop singers back in the mid-1940s and had long wanted to form a group with his peers. Hendricks was becoming notable as a lyricist while Ross' "Twisted" had gained her fame. With Lambert providing the arrangements, Hendricks writing lyrics for their vocalese specialties (singing words to the notes of recorded jazz solos) and Ross hitting the high notes, this was an unbeatable group. During the band's life, they recorded five albums and their three Columbia records (The Hottest Group In Jazz, Sing Ellington and High Flying) are reissued in full on this exciting two-CD set which also has four previously unissued numbers and three obscure selections. There are appearances from the Gildo Mahones Trio, trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison and altoist Pony Poindexter but the emphasis throughout is on the singers.

Among the many highpoints are such numbers as a remake of Ross' "Twisted," "Cloudburst," "Everybody's Boppin'," Hendricks' very funny "Gimme That Wine," "Cotton Tail," "Farmer's Market," "Cookin' At the Continental," "Halloween Spooks" and "Popity Pop" among many others. Each selection by Lambert, Hendricks and Ross is in reality a summit meeting of like-minded major bop/scat/vocalese singers yet they also blended together quite well and had an appealing and frequently heated ensemble sound.

This is a classic reissue that belongs in every serious jazz collection.

—Scott Yanow

Quotes

"3-1/2 stars (out of 5) — even today the sheer vocal athletics involved are astounding." —Down Beat

Contents

Charleston Alley; Moanin'; Twisted; Bijou; Cloudburst; Centerpiece; Gimme That Wine; Sermonette; Summertime; Everybody's Boppin'; Home Cookin'*; Blue*; Come On Home*; Cottontail*; Midnight Indigo*.

Original Recordings Produced by Irving Townsend,

*Original Recordings Produced by Teo Macero.

Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks, Annie Ross, Vocals; Harry ''Sweets'' Edison, Trumpet; Ike Isaacs, Bass; Gildo Mahones, Piano; Jimmy Wormworth, Walter Lee Bolden, Drums.

CD Special Features

• 3 Classic LPs — The Hottest New Group In Jazz, Lambert, Hendricks & Ross Sing Ellington and High Flying With Lambert, Hendricks & Ross — on 2 CDs

• 5 previously unreleased bonus tracks, includes 39 tracks total

• New liner notes by Will Friedwald

• Rare photos

• Digitally remastered from the original analog tapes for the finest sound possible!