[78-L] Humes.

[Spats]

Hi Taylor!

Well, we'll just have to disagree about Helen Humes. I first 
discovered her on a mid 40s live recording of Million Dollar Secret. 
I later obtained her CBS LP from the 70s, I think.

In her I hear one of the definitive Jazz singers, her voice half way 
between Billie and Ella, not a bad place to be.

Earl.

PS (I heard Buddy Tate several times, also in the 70s, when he played 
often at the Pizza Express in London).

>Hey Earl,
>
>I agree with Julian about Humes...I don't even like her vocals with
>Basie...esp. Blame It On My Last Affair.  A great song,  but not that
>version.  There is a superb Richard Himber Victor with a Stuart Allen vocal
>and gorgeous clarinet solos from Hank d'Amico...yow,  that one is a hit.
>
>Plus I was actually thinking of bands with two great singers who recorded
>commercially...so far as I know there is just that one live track of Billie
>with Basie,  right?
>
>When I was in Eddie Condon's one night in 1978 listening to Buddy Tate's
>little group (with Haywood Henry and others) the very elegant Miss Humes and
>her party bustled into the place...and just tore the place up with "I Can't
>Believe That You're In Love With Me" and then headed for the door.  I was
>lucky to be there...that was the same night that a nice fellow asked me if I
>would mind  share my table with some musicians,  who turned out to be Seiji
>Ozawa and some other guys from the Boston Symphony...a good time was had by
>all,  certainly including me!
>
>Taylor