The Queen paying tribute to the Empress - the legendary Dinah Washington sings songs made famous by the equally legendary Bessie Smith.
AMG Review:
'Gifted with a strong, beautiful voice and very precise phrasing, Dinah Washington translated Bessie Smith's irrepressible spirit and flair even better than Billie Holiday, Smith's most famous devotee. For her tribute album, Washington avoided Smith's best-known songs ("'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do," "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out," "Baby Won't You Please Come Home"). Instead, she wisely concentrated on the more defiant standards from "The Empress of the Blues," including "Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair," "Jailhouse Blues," and "You've Been a Good Ole Wagon." Washington sounds simply glorious, focused on alternating Smith's phrasing to emphasize her own gospel roots. The accompaniment, by Eddie Chamblee and His Orchestra, emphasizes the vaudeville and Dixieland sound of early-century blues, heavy on the slide trombone, growling trumpet, and skeletal, rickety percussion. Reissued several times (occasionally under the title The Bessie Smith Songbook), Dinah Washington Sings Bessie Smith charts a perfect balance between tribute and genuine artistic statement.'
Just for fun, I threw in eight Bessie Smith originals for comparison. It's amazing how when Dinah sings the songs, they are immediately recognizable for every fan of Bessie, and you forget how Dinah actually makes the songs her own until you compare with Bessie. Their vocal styles could hardly be more different, but both sisters sure had soul! Enjoy!
...and please comment!
Dinah Washington - Sings Bessie Smith
Just a really great site you have! I guess I prefer Dinah to Bessie...but not by much. Both great artists in their own right. Thanks for all the music.
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