Helen Merrill – The Nearness Of You (1958/2019) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

“The Nearness of You” is the fifth studio album by American jazz vocalist Helen Merrill. It includes performances of standards from two sessions with completely different lineups of accompanying musicians. The later session from February 21, 1958, features very notable jazz performers such as pianist Bill Evans and bassist Oscar Pettiford.

Alternately breathy and atmospheric or bright and dynamic, Helen Merrill often reaches a bit too far on The Nearness of You, though her distinct style and strong personality may be refreshing to vocal fans tired of the standard versions of standards. Leading two separate sextets – the rather more famous one, with Bill Evans, Bobby Jaspar, Oscar Pettiford, and Jo Jones, appears on only four tracks – Merrill breezes over a raft of mid-tempo standards, with several detours through high-drama territory. Her powerful voice occasionally gets her into trouble, breaking from breathy to brash and often occupying a rather awkward middle ground. Still, her ebullient tone and playful way with “Bye, Bye Blackbird,” “Let Me Love You,” and “All of You” is a treat to hear, and flutist Mike Simpson cuts it up behind her as well. Merrill really shines on the darker material, with just a plucked bass to accompany her on “Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise,” and a similarly spare accompaniment on a long, drawn-out tribute to “Summertime” and “I See Your Face Before Me.”

Tracklist:
01. Helen Merrill – Bye Bye Blackbird (Remastered) (02:57)
02. Helen Merrill – When The Sun Comes Out (Remastered) (04:48)
03. Helen Merrill – I Remember You (Remastered) (02:10)
04. Helen Merrill – Softly As In A Morning Sunrise (Remastered) (03:21)
05. Helen Merrill – Dearly Beloved (Remastered) (02:07)
06. Helen Merrill – Summertime (Remastered) (03:28)
07. Helen Merrill – All Of You (Remastered) (03:33)
08. Helen Merrill – I See Your Face Before Me (Remastered) (02:40)
14. Helen Merrill – Let Me Love You (Remastered) (02:49)
10. Helen Merrill – The Nearness Of You (Remastered) (04:04)
11. Helen Merrill – This Time The Dream’s On Me (Remastered) (02:21)
12. Helen Merrill – Just Imagine (Remastered) (03:22)

Personnel:
On Tracks “01, 03-06, 08, 11”:
Helen Merrill – vocals
Mike Simpson – flute
Dick Marx – piano
Fred Rundquist – guitar
Johnny Frigo – double bass
Jerry Slosberg – drums
David Carroll – arranger, conductor

On Tracks “02, 07, 09, 10, 12”:
Helen Merrill – vocals
Bobby Jaspar – flute
Bill Evans – piano
Barry Galbraith – guitar
Oscar Pettiford – double bass
Jo Jones – drums
George Russell – arranger, conductor

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