LAVERN BAKER SINGS BESSIE SMITH

[JSngry]

aka

Language (instrumental, as well as vocal)!

All praises to Danny Barker.

 

 

[dicky]

That's a sensational recording with a not too shabby supporting cast...

Arranged By – Ernie Wilkins, Nat Pierce, Phil Moore (2)
Baritone Saxophone – Jerome Richardson, Sahib Shihab
Bass – Wendell Marshall
Drums – Joe Marshall
Guitar – Danny Barker
Piano – Nat Pierce
Tenor Saxophone – Paul Quinichette
Trombone – Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green, Vic Dickenson
Trumpet – Buck Clayton
Vocals – LaVern Baker

I have it on a 2-fer with her Precious Memories album, which is always wonderful and at times stunning. 

[JSngry]

 

 

 

[danasgoodstuff]

LaVern's OK, but I vastly prefer Dinah's take on Bessie:

 

 

[JSngry]

Yeah, but that's obvious. Hopefully everybody knows that Dinah Washington was truly one of the great singers of the 20th Century. If they don't, they either don't care about that type of thing or else are just wrong.

This LaVern Baker record is not.particularly obvious. I've known about it since the aforementioned 20th Century and never thought it would be all that it is.

Well, I was wrong. Just wrong.

[danasgoodstuff]

OK. I think we're more or less on the same page then.  There was a history of jazz/record guide thing that preferred Lavern doing Bessie to Dinah doing same and said that Dinah's tribute was more old fashioned...but they were British and maybe it was just an editing glitch.