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Mosaic Singles: Helen Merrill - Casa Forte

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"What truly sets Helen apart, and serves as the basis for her place in the pantheon of the greatest jazz singers, is that she goes straight to the heart of the lyric and delivers it with such poignancy and feeling that you cannot escape being deeply affected. “ - Joe Sullivan, liner notes

Helen Merrill is a jazz singer who does not forsake lyrics for licks; her delivery is a poetry reading minus the theatrics. In 1980, she collaborated with her future husband, arranger extraordinaire Torrie Zito and he did for her what he did for Morgana King 16 years earlier with A Taste Of Honey. He created the gorgeous setting for a career-defining signature album.

Merrill always took chances as any real jazz singer must and she was always particularly bold with her choice of repertoire. Here she chose primarily songs from the great Brazilian composers of the '60s (Jobim, Caymmi, Nascimento etc). Zito fashioned three settings for her wonderful interpretations: string section plus rhythm, four Frnech horns with tenor sax, trombone and rhythm and rhythm section with a single cello.

The material suits Merrill's intimate voice which juggles the same mixture of love and melancholy that the songs convey. The exceptional supporting cast includes Sal Nistico, Bucky Pizzarelli, George Mraz, Grady Tate and Dom Um Romao.

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