The first half of this CD is quite historic -- 17½ minutes from
Ernestine Anderson's comeback concert at the 1976 Concord Jazz Festival. One can feel excitement throughout the performance as the audience rediscovers the talented singer, who had not recorded in a decade. Four songs ("Don't Get Around Much Anymore," "Days of Wine and Roses," "Stormy Monday" and a soulful "Am I Blue") have swinging and stimulating accompaniment by pianist
Hank Jones, bassist
Ray Brown and drummer
Jake Hanna, while a brief "Take the 'A' Train" has
Anderson joined by
Bill Berry's Big Band. The "London" half of the disc is from a year later and is more laidback and routine, although enjoyable. Backed by an English rhythm section, the singer interprets "My Romance," a four-song
Duke Ellington medley, and "Love for Sale" in winning fashion. Overall, this is one of the best in
Ernestine Anderson's string of Concord recordings.
–
Scott Yanow, Rovi