Mercury · in the Kissa Kissa racks
The Bessie Smith Songbook
| Recorded | Dec 30, 1957 & Jan 10, 1958 |
|---|---|
| Label | Mercury |
| Released | 1957 |
| Personnel | 13 credited players |
| Discogs | master 457838 |
The record
Washington tackles the blues queen's repertoire with a big-band crew stacked with Ellington and Basie alumni -- Clark Terry's trumpet and Quentin Jackson's trombone lending real pedigree to the horn charts. A tribute record where one commanding voice reckons with another, brassy and unsentimental rather than reverent.
Session personnel
- Charles Davis — baritone saxophone
- McKinley Easton — baritone saxophone
- Robare Edmondson — bass
- Robert Lee Wilson — bass
- James Slaughter — drums
- Jack Wilson — piano
- James Craig — piano
- Eddie Chamblee — tenor saxophone
- Julian Priester — trombone
- Quentin Jackson — trombone
- Clark Terry — trumpet
- Fortunatus "Fip" Ricard — trumpet
- Dinah Washington — vocals
Contemporary reception
No period review located yet. The vintage-press pipeline searches DownBeat, Cash Box, and Billboard for this session.
Pressings
| 1986 | Mercury — MONO |
|---|---|
| 1986 | EmArcy · 826663-2 — CD, Album |
| 1986 | EmArcy · 826 663-2 — CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 1986 | EmArcy · 826 663-4 — Cassette, Remastered |