ANITA O'Day: INDESTRUCTIBLE

[EXQUISITESOUNDS]

Creed Taylor stated if he didn't double her voice on the Tjader LP she would be drowned out. He and Norman Granz both lamented assiduously over her legendary intonation problems, and like Chris Connor her perrenial affectations. Jerri Winters and Pinky Winters were the real deal. These were two of the best white jazz singers ever who respected that this was a Black Artform and sang from the true essence of their souls. Jerri studied Sarah Vaughan and Pinky studied Lorez Alexandria.

[eehaslam]

As a singer, I worship Anita O'Day, and cannot believe so many never hard of her. I have to add I did not like Billie Holiday, and art is subjective. Of course you should NEVER compare. I appreciate that Billie was an icon and gifted in her own right.

[sizemeat]

"I was amazed at myself" I love it when true talent appreciates itself and doesn't go for the false humble crap. Love her.

[romamruin]

Another great legend. Jazz musician's singer - she had that special touch - Timing - Pitch - sound - Improvisation - a natural born Honeypie. True Artist!

[trippintonk]

People:

TALENT IS TALENT, whether white or black, male or female, . You insult Anita and Peggy by saying they were the greatest "white singers" GET OFF IT ALREADY! They were some of the greatest jazz singers ever, period.

[plangentmusic]

Greatness.

[TheJazzStreet]

i think that anita and peggy lee are the greatest white jazz singers of all time!

[EXQUISITESOUNDS]

@TheJazzStreet There were many white singers who had far superior instruments than Anita O'day. Jerri Winters, Ann Richards, June Christy, Claudia Thompson, Pat Morrissey, Morgana King. Everyone knew anita had a very small voice with less than average timbre, serious intonation problems, phrasing and scatting that was riddled with affectations and just plain uninteresting delivery. Yes, she could keep time but a story teller she was not and had great difficulty singing in tune.

[DeedleDeedleDumplin]

@EXQUISITESOUNDS "uninteresting delivery" is subjective. As for "small voice"...also subjective. And I happen to enjoy her scatting : ) She was not as good as Ella, in my lowly opinion, but she was a talented jazz singer nevertheless....

[EXQUISITESOUNDS]

@DeedleDeedleDumplin My statements concerning Anita were shared by most serious musicians and quoted by her producers Norman Granz and Creed Taylor. Taylor stated he had to double her voice on the lp with Cal Tjader and Granz gave her everything including the best musicians to try and ensure a white jazz singer could be made relevant singing an African-American artform. As I previously stated, there were several other white so-called jazz singers who were far more talented with better voices.

[badback22]

@EXQUISITESOUNDS "legendary intonation problems" I have listened to her two songs at that Newport Jazz Festival that was filmed. She was hitting everything with the skill of Indian and Middle Eastern singers who use quarter tones! She must have used some quarter tones in that performance. If you do not know what quarter tones are - you may percieve them as being notes off key because what they are are notes half way between a half tone. But I have to listen to the rest, I just discovered her.

[gilraenn29]

billie was always high as a kite, would love to hear billie sing w/out the drugs,

[steve89z]

anita o'day the best ever bar none!

[TreblePop]

Thanks so much for posting. Gotta love Anita. Great singer, and an amazing sense of style. No offense to Billie, because she was an amazing talent too. But I just can't cope with her music....the sadness is just too much for me.

Anita had a messed up personal life, too. But the music always makes me smile. And always so chic in appearance. I wonder how a heroin addict managed to look so healthy and stylish.

[paxeamore]

LOVE this flick. Anita was REAL - an amazing talent.

[52bluesboy]

Did you notice that Sade copied her 'Jazz on a summers day' outfit (to the last feather) on her performance at the original Band aid?

[barrywinehousexp]

With Billy, people seem more eager to make themselves available, both to the 'personal tragedy' and the content of the songs. Listening to her, you get 'Ah! Damn! THAT- I've felt that stupid, lonely; did That that way or ect. ect.' Billy washes you with meaning, with feeling.

Anita O'day hits you like a lightening bolt; instant recognition -"Yes! (grinning madly) THAT's a JAZZ singer! She IS a singer! That's what a singer oughtta be!"

Both are likable, Anita makes me smile, so I go with her.

[Getzwho]

Dead right matey !! O' Day is THE Jazz Singer !!

[jazmaan]

I love Anita. No reason to compare her to anyone else. She is the real thing and an original in her own right. I had the pleasure of meeting her a few times and even got to talk to her about her stand in the Count Basie Band with Wardell Gray. "Wardell?" she mused "He could play 20 choruses and make you wonder where each one came from."

[nandesneto]

Anita along with Billie Holiday was the greatest jazz singer of all time.

[DjangoBop]

Continuing on the spectrum I would add Blossom Dearie.

All 3 on Verve in the late 50s, and all 3 great musicians

[bill93063]

All of the above are outstanding for different reasons. Did anyone evoke pathos or blues better than Billie? Did anyone swing better than Ella? Did anyone embody the diva personna better then Sarah Vaughn? The answers are rhetorical of course but Anita was right up there. She could scat with Ella, evoke pathos and blues with Billie and the glamorous diva trappings akin to Sarah. She was iconic and underappreciated without a doubt.

[2cats0dogs]

I never thought anyone could hold a candle to Ella or Billie or Nina.

Meet Anita.

[dafsoogood]

i wonder why  they didnt do a comparison with ella fitzgerald....w/e

[twsmpjlz]

i love this women

[mjmurdock]

Me too.

[scoutie101]

I saw this! Check it out if you can. Some amazing performances, and Anita herself is hilarious. Watch for the part where she shuts that annoying Bryant Gumbel right the hell up when he's basically trying to get her to admit some moral failing because of her heroin years.

[mikemckv]

Special and unforgettable.

[bobnweave64]

I love that she made up her name from the Pig Latin for "Dough", what she wanted to make when she grew up. :)

[johnnykluv]

She was the greatest ever. She went through many phases of vocal stylings and was incredibly versatile. The scenes from Jazz on A Summer's Day are incredible. I had the fortune to meet her at a performance when she was older. She was the only person ever whom I asked for an autograph.

[mansfield67]

Anita WAS what jazz is all about...she the very best !

[korzensucks]

She is the greatest of all time. Billie is overrated.

[jimnick1]

No she isn't! Anita is great and Billie is great! don't compare them....

[Gman3thousand]

Billie is by no means overrated. Why does it have to be either or? They had completely different styles. Besides, Billie died too young for there to be any progression in her style.

[jburidan]

Billie was a great great singer indeed but by the time she died she had any voice at all. I doubt that any progression in style could happen later, If she had been alive.

There can't be a comparition in both singers they are different and they are great.

I personally think that Anita was the Jazz singer with the most innate talent and musicianship, others have beautifull full range voices, but no that musicianship and phrasing

forget my english is not my native language.

[jalex11]

Anyone that says Billie Holiday had no voice by the end is missing the point. Billie never had a technically remarkable voice, what she had to offer was a completely innovative style and timbre, phenomenal musicianship and an ability to add emotional intensity to her selections.I am not taking anything away from Anita, but Billie came FIRST and pioneered the style that indirectly and directly inspired Anita's own personal style.

[LizzyDouglas]

Don't forget Billie's phrasing and timing, she was unique in that. Billie IS the BLUES (NÓT Jazz!!). Though many pigeon-hole her as a Jazz-singer! Billie is incomparable.

Anita, whom I also love very very much, can't be compared with Billie and the other way around. They both are unique in their own fields, discussion is useless.

[jalex11]

Billie is a jazz singer who sang some blues and infused her selections with the feeling of the blues, but she was definitely, for the most part a Jazz singer. Billie phrased like a horn, swung, and improvised on the melody of songs, these are all traits of a jazz vocalist not a blues singer.

[LizzyDouglas]

@jalex11: Sorry that we don't agree. For many including myself, Jazz is a form of the blues. Jazz(?) evolved out of the blues, the blues is the beginning of all modern music also jazz & R & Roll. Louis Armstrong is for many the personification of Jazz... but when you listen to his prewar recordings, you hear... blues, blues & nothing but the blues. When you hear Billie.... you hear BLUES, BLUES, BLUES. When you'll name that "JAZZ" it's alright by me!!

[jalex11]

it's I realize Jazz was born out of blues but it alson had many other influences including african music, carribean music, classical music, marching band music etc. Saying Billie Holiday is blues because jazz was influenced by blues is like saying that the Beatles were an R&B group because Rock and Roll was born out of R&B. In any case the important thing is that we both agree that Billie and Anita were great artists!

[jimnick1]

Hey Lizzie - being called a jazz singer is not pigeon-holing! Billie Holiday was the QUINTESSENTIAL jazz singer. The blues was part of her art and was in everything she sang. But why compare?

But I agree, there is no reason to compare. Anita always named Billie as her influence and inspiration.

[guitaress1]

I'll miss you Anita--a great singer and a hip chick.

[nurvrax]

i'm a new fan. RIP Anita.

[philocamillus]

Johnny Mandel nailed it: Aniita was a "free soul"

Or, as another described her style in this clip: "rhythmic exhibitionism" Spot-on

As a relative newcomer to her group of ardent fans, I'm definitely looking forward to this documentary

But: don't watch this if you'd like to think that her performance at Newport in 58 was all-natural

[janellesadler]

Anita O'Day is so inspiring on every level..tone, phrasing and total, complete GROOVE.

[eguirald]

We will never forget you, Anita.

[Osiris1st]

I had never heard of Anita O'Day before today. And today she instantly becomes the greatest female singer I have ever heard. What a voice. What a talent.

[hollywood3000]

anita o'day the greatest of all female jazz singers. she was underrated and never seems to get the proper attention she deserves. anita could scat sing like no other. a true legend.

[plangentmusic]

There's Anita-- and there's everyone else.

[b1970b]

I love Anita. The best jazz singer, without a doubt. Interesting in that clip how coherent an old babe she was. And the eyes still look the same: playful and sly, with a sadness.

[rebel2rebel]

Anita, was one of the 'best jazz singers' around. I put her up with 'Billie' (the best), 'Ella' 'Carmen' 'Sarah' & 'Dinah'. she will forever be a true musician (vocally). RIP I know your having a blast w/all old friends. Bye

[Jatp55]

High Times Hard Times. I will always love you and the swinging music you gave us. It will live on for ever.

[barbiemartinez]

I will never forget you, Anita.

[lluvia92]

I love you Anita.