Carmen McRae - Body & Soul

[jhuamang]

I agree 100% with music1831. saddly she didn´t have a good marketing if you compare with ella or sara

[amyspkm]

the best of the best!

[ninoarobelidze]

fabulous....



[nancydrew5]

I love Carmen, Sarah, Billie and Ella, thank goodness we have a legacy of their music to enjoy for infinite times. I just wish they were with us for a little while longer. I wish they'd taken better care of their health. They all left us way too soon none making it out of their 70's. McCrae at a mere 74, Vaughan 66, Ella at least made it to 79 and Lady Day 44. Why do the good die so young and the ones you wish would kick the bucket, stick around like cock roaches.

[Angel19403]

Right ladies here we have it, a free jazz singing lesson!

[beautifulzee]

Carmen is everything <3

[Alemayehu45]

This is MORE than singing!

[music1831]

@Alemayehu45 agree! Carmen is the female Frank Sinatra in the way that she interprets the lyrics & what a sexy voice.

I'm a 68yo Australian & still get GOOSE-BUMPS when i listen to Carmen.

She is in my opinion the greatest jazz singer of her era.

[jazzytheresa]

That was just amazing and I'm 15 and I enjoyed that

[joselly7]

TERRIFIC!!! I JUST LOVE HER! YES, PURE GENEOUS! OH, MY GOD, THANK YOU!

[Listen1395]

this lady's voice just, does things to me.

[Listen1395]

oh damn, did anybody catch that she took a break to cough and then went back to pleasing every eardum in that place?? what a beast!!!

[nachodaddy]

Eight thumbs down votes? Spooky. I wonder who they think a good chick singer is? Miley? Britney? Joplin? Nicks? Baez?  Frightening.

[planzeta]

Extraordinary!!! Older she get, better she sang. A masterpiece.

[waynebrasler]

Fascinating as she deconstructs and reconstructs the song as she moves through it. She could be very hard on her musicians and distant and even rude with fans but there's no denying her genius.

[TheDivers110]

カーメンの解釈力が発揮された「奇跡的」なパフォーマンス。

ジャズ歌手とは、こういうものだという見本のような歌。

ディープな晩年の声と、知的なインプロヴィゼーションがたまりま­せん。

[Boddissatva]

what I love is that she tells the story of this song in every note.

[vananhdo]

is this the one that's AABA?

[Paulo1989ize]

Fantastic....



[BradyMidnight]

Carmen, you are FOREVER.

[margarida179]

Carmen is the body and the soul of jazz!

[reboppa1]

we miss you girl

[karinablacktie]

So many great interpretations of this great jazz classic ---- one doesn't have to be better than the other. Billie Holiday, Anita O'Day, Coleman Hawkins...... there's a reason this is a jazz standard.

[postatility]

I think Carmen got better with age.There is something wonderfully warm,wise and philosophical about her later-years performances.

[juliagoooooooolia]

Simply wonderfully beautiful

[Dougoak]

One of the most powerful interpretations of Carmen! Maybe the Jazz ... Carmen is forever !!!!!

I love this woman!

Douglas - Brazil!

[AKOutback]

I think to sing a lyric like this, a person has to really study the words of a song and really try to understand what the lyric is talking about. Words like tragic, crumble and "a tale that has been told so often"... are beautiful lyrics and she puts great emphasis on them often them with an accompannying facial / body expression.

[timopartanen]

Great, just great

[Dougoak]

She is the best jazz singer of all times!!!

Carmen Mcrae! I Love you! You Never die!!!

Douglas - Brazil!

[88Habitrabbit1]

The year is 1990 and I am working at a shopping mall in Beverly Hills,California when none other than Ms. Mc Crae comes switching pass me with an arm load of packages en route to her yellow Volvo station wagon. I saluted her and she was as warm,and charming as anyone could hope for. When I ask how she was and she replied demurely that she was "Just spending money she didn't have!" We both laughed out loud and she drove off. Talk about some one making your day!

[GrilloNoGRAZIE]

Pure jazz mind. Listening Jazz you don't get old!!

Carmen in our minds!

[lamberti23]

THANK YOU LORD FOR AFRICAN/AMERICAN PEOPLE.....

[Patequi]

What about African and African descendants who are not American?

[555kappock]

Pianist, songstress, composer, jazz-stylist...and the list goes on.

Carmen, you were one of a kind, and for me, the only one I could listen to all day and night.

For those who truly apppreciate Carmen, try to find an album called TORCHY, done around 1956. The best she ever did!

[bossanova64]

Is there anything more beautiful than this?

I don´t think so.....One more reason why Ms. Carmen was,is,and will always be my favorite female Jazz singer ever....A true diva.

[LuizPagan]

This and the "I am glad there is you" are my favorite Carmen post on YouTube. I am really feeling her spirit today in a special way. Its something about age, excellence and creativity flowing together in a good way with profound POWER. Duende is ageless. Today would have been Carmen McRae's 90th birthday. So glad she came this way. Her birth date is April 8th 1920! Dear fellow fans out there across the globe ENJOY! ENJOY! ENJOY! SANTA CARMEN!!!

[margarida179]

It's wonderful to listen and see the great Carmen! Her natural eco! It's like to live the history of the music and the jazz! Thank you for this moment.

[guocos]

Lei è grande, ma è anche accompagnato molto bene

[hogreality1]

makes me cry everytime... thank you carmen

[hogreality1]

makes me cry everytime... thank you carmen

[jameswatson321]

Truly wonderful!!!!!!!!!!

[ingvors]

Wonderful Carmen! No one like her!!!!

[SwissSax]

So deep

[Lillymasonmusic]

amazing

[MG30001]

wow. how soft & easy!

[cormar1]

Terrific performance. Also, please check out Lady Ella on the DVD, "Sinatra, A Man and His Music + Ellen. She is magical in her performance. Hard to imagine ever seeing the likes of these folks again.

[Matt3740]

This is my favorite version of this beautiful song! Carmen is one of the greatest jazz singers ever. Its amazing how they all work together. She can even cough and move right back into the song.

[LuizPagan]

She could even dress somebody down in the middle of performance and pick up right were she left off. Check out the NPR piece on her that is in JAZZ PROFILES I think. It's well produced and about an hour long.

[MultiAndy35]

very beautiful the best version that i have seen

[cdevereaux7]

Beautiful! Thank you for posting this!

[AKOutback]

Might be the best rendition of all time. Everything is just right on it.

[LuizPagan]

Best one I ever heard and I been listenin' for over 60 years!

[grenadian11]

Thank you Carmen McCrae; Thank you!

[misstraceynolan]

Love what the director did with the still photos off the top! Love what Carmen does too...always.

[ScoreDaddys1]

carmen mcrae top quality super rip at my blog see my profile

i'm thriving off artists, you should too

[paul51]

I got the chills from Miss McRae's first note . . . I knew she was going to kick itto the curb!!! Oh how I miss Carmen, Sarah, Ella and the othergreats that are no longer here to share their vocal talents with us. Thanks for the share.

[tenoriximo]

raffinatissima, sofisticata, ma capace di incantare. Sempre!

refined, sophisticated, yet able to enchant. Anytime!

We miss you..

[Pamishes]

I LOVED HER....

[812shiloh]

Could someone post the duet Two for the Road with Carmen and George Shearing if you have it.

[XAROPESY]

UPS....la classe passou por AQUI.-!!!!!-UN SALUDO A LA DISTANCIA.-

[mikeypattybecky]

e guns killin it!!!

[kirkbp1965]

Pure geneous........thank God for her, Ella and Sarah. She sang the hell out of this song. We need singers like this now.

[peaudeserpen]

@kirkbp1965 c flou et c pa mon stile de zik, alors la ...

[Dentister]

Oh this one sets me back

[doddsalfa]

One of the greatest jazzsingers in the world

[mkbell2003]

I feel likewise. Carmen rocked! Glad I got to see her perform three times in my life time.

[Vitamine101]

This is magic. And it's in Japan. The soul of jazz is universal, bringing us together.

[BleeTee83]

You may be right, RaginIrv and LuizPagan. But what I don't get is that I offered to contact both of you to discuss what I was told to clear up that topic, and neither of you responded to my messages. I'm not doubting your story, but it would be nice to hear from you directly so that I can determine if my BF's story is truthful or not.

[LuizPagan]

I am not the one to clear up anything. Raginlrv is the one who can possibly do that right now, not me. I think Torihope has articulated the MOST important thing at this point. Hey! I think of Carmen as my mother too, but I know she is NOT my biological mother. You hear me? Enjoy the music and forget about the rest. Enjoy your life. There is so much more to reach for and do. Its all good. Don't get stuck on no thing or no body! Keep movin on. Fulfill your purpose for being here at this time.

[15131967]

hi,I've moved and just got my e-mail up.What I'm saying is that Carmen Mcrae is my auntie, and I know for a fact that she did'nt have any childern,hell she wanted me' so I know she would'nt give up her child to anyone,your boy friend' tell him to contact me.

[Torihope]

None of these 'facts' or 'untruths' about Ms. McRae matter. What does matter is that 1. She was an amazing and often underrated performer and 2. We still have her wonderful music to enjoy. Can I get an amen???

[LuizPagan]

AMEN!!!!!

[maddtappin]

Wow, what a command of the voice.

[HottaBoogie]

At times she seems she loses her pitch but then picks it up again. Such attitude, she is definitely a Jamaican!!!

[BleeTee83]

Many in the inner McRae circle know that Patricia McRae and the rest of her family shunned her. She wasn't able to pass for White, and a "respectable" woman of the 50's and 60's didn't become a jazz singer and travel the road. Which led to the decision of Patty "adopting" my ex-BF. Patty passes for White to this day and lives in Illinois.

[BleeTee83]

The emotional baggage of being kept away from his mother is what led to our breakup. This man is 44 years old, and needs to let go and let God. However, I sympathize with him on everything. Carmen wasn't allowed to raise him as her son in the 60's because he passed for White, and you already know the racial agenda of the times. Had she raised him, then the question of who the White father was would have been brought up. And an interracial couple back then was unthinkable.

[BleeTee83]

Well, he was her only biological child. He lives in Oakland, CA. Many of the local jazz musicians of Berkeley knew Carmen and know him, as well. I listened for hours of him telling me about a lifetime of being raised by Carmen's sister Patricia and being denied access to Carmen. In the 60's, when Carmen's career was on the slump, she worked as a schoolteacher and gained access to him that way. But after the mid-80's, all contact was lost and he was told not to attend her funeral.

[RaginIrv235]

carmen mcrae is my auntie, and i know for a fact she did'nt have any childern, your bf. is full of shit. Tell him to write me. sign j.mcrae

[LuizPagan]

This performance seems more amazing every time I hear it. Carmen smoked tobacco & marijuana most of her adult life. In fact she grew marijuana in her back yard. What I keep noticing here is that she is having a struggle to breath in this clip. She did eventually die from emphysema among other complications. How did she sing as well as she did through that illness when singing is largely about breath? When she sang obviously there's abundance of heart and intelligence. Addiction is a BITCH!

[BleeTee83]

Best version of this song I've ever heard. I was always a huge fan of Carmen, and learned even more about the woman when I dated her son. Yes, that's right: Carmen McRae had 1 son!

[LuizPagan]

Please fill in the details!! A BIO-logical son or adopted son? She had a few godchildren I heard, but never heard of any son before.

[RaginIrv235]

your right'i'm carmen mcrae niece and do'nt let any one bull shit you,she did'nt have not 1 child.

[penlint]

What can I say about this video?? It is superb! This is absolutely the best version of Body and Soul I have ever heard! Thank you so much for sharing this.

[LuizPagan]

I was suspicious and the timing didn't seem quite right either. None of the biographies I have seen have said much, if anything, about her siblings (3?), much less a son. There is a new website up now about Carmen that does her some justice finally and a wonderful NPR piece that came out late last year I think. The Biography called "Ms Jazz" by Leslie Gourse (sp) I think, is poorly done. Hopefully an appropriate biography will appear some time soon. Thank you for your input Raginirv235.

[RaginIrv235]

yes Leslie Gourse is crazy, what she wrote about my auntie is an insult.my mommy and carmen have the same daddy, different mother he's really from costa rico.[not jamica]

[pimenteross]

¡¡¡Carmen es maravillosa!!!

A mi gusto es la mas grande cantante , y con la mas perfecta dicción.

Estoy enamorado de ella, desde que la ví en Buenos Aires a comienzos de los años 80.

Dijo Javier Lopez de Guereña en "El Pais" (España):

"Para comprender en que consiste el swing, basta presenciar una actuación de Carmen McRae".

[rabbitfish123]

Less is more, something the bootie liciscious singers of today just do not get, this is singing the song no more no less. You need to be able to get to the soul of the song. Unfortunately not to many singers today get that. Carmen was one those who simply got it!!!!

[fringuelloveneto]

I'm listening to her from about 20 years (I'm 36) and that's the very first video I've seen..I'm just emotioned. Too bad she left before Icould day to her how important is her music in my life. I L C M R !!!

[branchwater7]

carmen mcrae is da business, baby.

[TrumpetFire]

eterna carmen !!! salve! salve!

excellent.

que timbre que ela tem !

[susuemikado]

this is the very first video I ever saw on youtube a couple of years ago when there was hardly anything on youtube. I looooove this video. thanks for sharing it with me:0)

[xklamation]

Ahhh, Beautiful & Absolutely Amazing. thank you so much for posting this.

[LuizPagan]

She just droped a little master piece there and simply said "Thank you". Classssssssss!

[nancydrew5]

That's Buster Williams on Bass, a bad Mofo

[juli13]

She's a Godess of Jazz!!!

It's a pleasure to listen her!!

Guauuuuuuuuu!!

[louis15x]

I love the way her voice floats over every musical note with just the right amount of passion! She was defintely one of our jazz greats.

[nedmanxxx]

when Carmen lays it... it stays there

[AKOutback]

That's about the best delivery of a lyric I think I've ever heard. I love her emphasis on the adjectives in the lyric, especially when she sings the words "tragic" and "crumble".

[djjazziedeb]

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO­OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO­OOOOOOOOOOve her!

[frankonileva]

No words....i lost my breath

[ehardi]

Is that Buster Williams on bass?

[LuizPagan]

yes!

[ehardi]

Can someone identify the pianist? Is it Gunnison(sp)? What a lesson in accompanying.

[LuizPagan]

yes its Eric Gunnison.... you can find him on line by googling him... I think lives in Colorado now and is quite active with his own group. About a year ago I alerted him to his presence here and how damn good he was... He was one of best pianist she ever worked with and there were some damn good ones... The one who is usually mentioned is Norman Simmons. Norman is in his 80s now, living in NYC and still performing quite well.

[ehardi]

Thanks so much for the info. I always liked his playing. Otwell was the other great one i remember and i think Marc Levine played with her.All in the upper ranks i would say.

[Jazzman303]

Eric GUnnison lives in Denver Colorado and Plays with his Fusion band Wake Up Call and he plays with the greta Denver Band "COnvergence" He is truly a world class player.

[elgozador]

After Sarah Vaughn? There are so different. Sarah has a more splendidly beautiful voice yet Carmen makes you feel like she feels every word and sings it right to you. They are both equally amazing.

[collettestevie]

What a S P L E N D I D performer!

[joannamichelle72]

after sarah vaughan simply the best.

[musodave]

A superlative performance. And I've never heard the alternative lyric in the final section - does anyone know where it comes from?

[moneymasterjet]

"I'd gladly surrender myself, too hoo yoowoo" I love what you do to me Carmen.

[LuizPagan]

I keep coming back to this to listen again and again. Recent I was reading a website out of NYC by a veteran jazz lover, Marcus Myers I think. He spoke of Miles Davis gazing at a sign that said: Ella Fitzgerald, Queen of Jazz. Miles' response: If Ella is the Queen, then who the fuck is Carmen??

[paulostroff99]

Her phrasing is so right on!

[nancydrew5]

A great storyteller. You have to study the trinity Carmen, Sarah Ella in your repertoire as a singer

[LuizPagan]

... and Billie and Betty... they are the innovators in my book, not there are not any other good jazz singers... I could lay down a list a mile long but these women occupy the top... did I leave out Miss Dinah Washington?? Oh well... there are more!

[angelofthenorth2]

This is my all time favourite jazz singer singing one of my favourite songs.

I have to have a daily fix of this lady and song. I met her once in 1970 and boy was her attitude scarey at first...then we talked and she was wonderful.

[calliope07]

Her interpretations were unique.

Doesn't she give full meaning to what she sings?!

[willuk]

absolutely. i too think she surpassed billie. i beleive carmen mcrae to be the greatest jazz singer ever

[LuizPagan]

She was an arch-bitch and a sensitive soul. In protecting her vulnerable self, she was abusive at times. The courage and stamina it takes to be a black artist in environment takes something most can Never imagine. I dont excuse abuse and cruelty, but I think she really surpassed her model and mentor, Billie Holiday. She took the lessons of Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, and Ella Fitz and created a very high form of art called "the Jazz Vocal."

[willuk]

love seeing this. as much as she argues with and cussed out everyone close to her - one thing never changed. her love for the appreciative audience. this is so nice to see here. i love the dramtic climax she reaches with "unless there is magic - the end will be traaaadgic" she is an absolute legend. it's true that if there was ever a jazz opera, in her lifetime, camrne mcrae would have suited that role perfectly!

[dahliafully]

Saw Carment McRae a few times and the last was a very short while before she passed. The audience wanted standards and could barely respond to her tributes to Monk. As legendary as she was in her own time, she still had to contiuously fight cultural ignorance and the invasion of pop aesthetics into the artistry she so expertly accomplished. She kept her intelligence, humor and class throughout. Love her.

[Chavall1]

Thaaaat's jazz baby

[Shakeyground]

I needed this in my life.

[PatdeW]

so touching; she's one sophisticated Lady!

[LuizPagan]

Is her full performace from this day available any where?

As I have said many times before, if I was on a desert is land, Carmen McRae and Betty Carter CDs would have to be packed in my bag.

No she didn't have the instrument of Ella or Sarah, but the intellect and heart of Carmen's art surpassed them all. My patron saint?... Santa Carmen. Ah, the supreme holiness of her imprefection!

[Shakeyground]

What's an instrument, if not for the person playing it? I'd say her instrument was a sight better. After all, she she was playing it.

[LuizPagan]

you point is well made! :-)

[jpwjr1199]

Wow! Awesome.

[phgp527]

if there is a "holy trinity" of the great female jazz singers it would have to be carmen mcrae, sarah vaughan, and ella fitzgerald; and these as emminations of the goddess, lady day.

such a beautiful version of body and soul... immpecable phrasing, complete control of her instrument, and soul... god yes, soul...

she so sorely missed.

[scotandi]

She was wonderful!!

[ajucaram]

pretty cool

[alyoshamucci]

Wonderful to see an 'old salt'; so at ease and at home in the music.

[mikosp57]

This video is a sublime example of the ART of Carmen McRae. Carmen was (and still is) truly one of the greatest emotional interpretors of The Great American Songbook EVER!!

[artistonfire]

thanks for posting this video. when i mention carmen to people today, many actually seem to struggle to even remember her! damn shame! carmen mcrae was one of the best ever. so musical with impeccable phrasing. the best performer i've ever seen in a nightclub setting, bar none.

[lhridley]

This truly reflects the genius of my dear friend and colleague, Ms. Carmen McRae. Also, my "bass-mate", Buster Williams, instrument and accompaniment sound beautiful and tasty. -- Larry Ridley, www.larryridley.com

[geepee]

Thank you for comment, Mr.Larry (SURPRISED!!!!!!!)

[makpjazz57]

Killer Carmen version of Body and Soul

[geepee]

Thanks for comment.

Whenever seeing this video, I'm impressed by her singing and shed tears.