Jazz Lady

This is in some respects an unlikely assemblage of talents. When's the last time you heard a major popular singer accompanied not by an orchestra or big band, not by a rhythm section (piano, bass, drums), not even by a rhythm section plus tenor saxophone but by a rhythm section plus trumpet? The trumpet player, Pete Candoli (referred to as "Cootie Chesterfield" on the original LP), moreover provides just enough brightness and fire to offset the "cool," low-key approach of Peggy as well as to push this normally controlled, perfectionist performer into some uncharacteristically spontaneous, even surprising, readings of familiar material. Compared to her straight-laced, flawless but stiff and sterile "live" session with George Shearing's trio, this is great jazz singing, as worthy of the description as any recording by a Billie Holiday or Carmen McRae.

Great Music..

Hi everyone I'm a 15 year old Native American, and I love the music of Peggy Lee. I won't go as far as one reviewer and say

A classic jazz-pop album

Black coffee is typical of Peggy's music - a jazz-pop collection featuring both famous and obscure songs from the Great American Songbook. The first eight tracks were originally released on an LP in 1953 and featured Peggy backed by trumpet, piano, bass and drums. Later, the LP was re-issued with four additional tracks - these are tracks 9 to 12 on this CD. Those four tracks were recorded at a later date and featured similar backing but with vibes and celeste instead of trumpet.