Ethel Waters (1896-1977) was one of her country's first great popular recording artists. Although her recording career began in 1921 (when audiences were still referring to her as "Sweet Mama String Bean"), this Giants of Jazz compilation hones in on her success as a jazz and pop vocalist during the '30s. Even given the blues-based nature of her early material, the music on this collection is vastly different from the classic female blues tradition as defined in the '20s by Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith. Waters' approach was ...
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Ethel Waters (1896-1977) was one of her country's first great popular recording artists. Although her recording career began in 1921 (when audiences were still referring to her as "Sweet Mama String Bean"), this Giants of Jazz compilation hones in on her success as a jazz and pop vocalist during the '30s. Even given the blues-based nature of her early material, the music on this collection is vastly different from the classic female blues tradition as defined in the '20s by Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith. Waters' approach was always lighter, campier, more confectionary and therefore ideally suited to the needs and expectations of U.S. pop culture. Compare Smith's "Trombone Cholly" with Waters' "Oh Joe, Play That Trombone," or just try and imagine Smith negotiating the nubile jump rope strains of "I Just Got a Letter." Waters was essentially a jazz vocalist with pop sensibilities even when she sang the blues. Stylistically, she deserves a comfy throne in the same celestial pantheon alongside Rosa Henderson, Ivie Anderson, Mildred Bailey and Helen Humes. This grab bag of historical Waters performances recorded between August 10, 1931 and November 7, 1940 may serve as a good introduction to this accomplished entertainer. As is common with Giants of Jazz compilations, the recordings are presented in a more or less inverted and temporally wrinkled chronology. The singer is heard backed by some of the best musicians of the decade, including Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Edgar Sampson, Benny Carter, Bunny Berigan, Taft Jordan, Sandy Williams, Garvin Bushell, Sterling Bose and Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey. Quite a number of these records were made during the late '30s with a band led by trumpeter Eddie Mallory. Two selections dating from 1940 ("Cabin in the Sky" and "Taking a Chance on Love") find her working with an orchestra under the direction of a man by the perhaps unsettling name of Max Meth. ~ arwulf arwulf, Rovi
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Seller's Description:
Very Good. Size: 5x4x0; This item is in very good condition with all original artwork and materials. The disc may have light superficial marks that do not affect play.
