Carmen McRae Round Midnight

[ladylove8907]

Love love love her after ella and Sarah of course cause I love them too but I think I listen tobher a little more than them not saying I don't like them cause I do but just listen to her a little more that's all but I still love them a lot but just listen to her more but I don't know why I do I just do.....lol this was a very long comment.....lol a little too long if I ask me.

[dyrkness]

These are completely different lyrics than the Sarah Vaughn version. Listen to that one, too.

[Loumademe]

My first time hearing this version - about 5 or 6 times. :-D

Just marvelous. Thank You.

[magic4162]

Oooh, the best

[CJforJC94]

I Love how she did this

[SpazChat]

I wish this music was more popular today instead of the junk that's currently pushed on us instead. I think one reason it isn't is because it requires a lot of skill from the singer, A REAL SINGER like you hear here

[TheKuppie]

It really can't get any better.probably the best I've heard in the last 60 years

Thanks for this

[cazcazdedin]

the coolest jazz vocalist of all times..

[bzockster]

Clearly, the best vocal version of this classic. She really makes you believe she's lived the life that she is singing about.

[bzockster]

Clearly, the best vocal version of this classic.

[charleslindsaymusic]

Gorgeous woman and vocals to match!

[djackwirr]

Truly beautiful.

[francadiprima]

DIVINA.

[pmitsos]

I forgot to add Betty Carter & Dinah Washington! BC is TRULY a vocal instrument & musician. Have any of you heard of Nellie McKay? Not the greatest vocalist but truly an original; writes her own songs, plays the piano & performs. See "I WANT TO GET MARRIED" (Not the 'China' clip - worst. Live on The View, maybe) & 'SARI' (Rap/jazz style) for diversity of her genres...both on her 1st CD, an artist. Wish I was born earlier, missed the best eras. This is not the America my parents knew/loved.

[pmitsos]

I'm young & listen to many kinds of music (heavy metal, hard rock, '60s Britsh invasion, classical, baroque, JAZZ). McRae's 1 of my fave vocalists (w/B Holliday, Ella, divine Sarah V, Anita O'Day, Blossom D, Doris Day, Nina Simone). Carmen's voice is smooth, cool, has little/no vibrato, distinctive, GREAT phrasing; a true musician who illuminates the melody & lyrics. HER version of "YOU TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ME" is THE BEST! Wish it was on YouTube! If someone can upload...Thanks Jatloz for this.

[MrGary164]

Well, folks . . . where did this set of lyrics come from? I've heard this great Monk tune performed by many artists, but NEVER heard a single one of these verses . . .

Saw Carmen at the late, great (and slightly sinister) Parisian Room in LA in '81 . . .

truly a Master/Mistress of her Craft . . .

Gary in Arizona

.

[markmarktarmann]

@MrGary164 also on the monk tribute album she did (her last album i believe) all monk. not all the backing performances are "scintillating". but every vocal performance of hers is priceless. many of the songs (like this) are sung with different lyrics than what you usually hear or see in the "vocal real book".

[markmarktarmann]

@MrGary164 george mraz on bass, al foster on drums. one track live at the Great American Music Hall, SF, Ca, the rest i think done in studio. if somebody can tell me how to upload it i'll do it.

[SpazChat]

@markmarktarmann , Is that Jason Mraz's father?

[markmarktarmann]

@SpazChat sorry i don't know

[rebolognesi]

@MrGary164 I agree with you... who wrote the lyrics? Same question about Anita O'Day's version of Davis's "Four": wonderful, ironical and unusual lyrics, completely different from the ones that Hendricks wrote and anyone uses to sing. Such a small attention usually paid to words and their writers!! (this is a singer's and a writer's complaint, of course... ;))

[lovelytrix00]

@MrGary164  The additional verses were written by Bernie Hanighen and were used on Ms. McRae's album recorded and released in 1988, "Carmen Sings Monk".

[SpraysHouseOfFun]

@lovelytrix00 thanks- was going to ask :-)

think i like these ones even more..have to sing them both and see which feels best

[Noesfacilito]

Really expert phrasing....I could NEVER tire of listening to Carmen sing.

[untoa]

you are monsters to criticize makeup fashion - this is magisterial singing- relish and cherish it. This woman was as good as it gets.

[jamesmaseobrown]

Don't get me wrong, I love Carmen McRae. She's an icon and one of the best singers of all time. But I first saw this, I was thinking, "Love child of Spock and Lt Uhura."

Don't hate me.

[EXQUISITESOUNDS]

@jamesmaseobrown That was unneccessary and completely unkind. This is art of the highest order, African-American Classical Art.

[jamesmaseobrown]

@EXQUISITESOUNDS Geesh, get a sense of humor.

[mzmuzikluvr]

@jamesmaseobrown

I agree, she most certainly was a Jazz Diva and your comment is HI-laaaaarious! (shaking my head and still laughing!)

[haruhistnumber5]

@jamesmaseobrown Ha!  Spot on.

[direfranchement]

It has taken me a while to warm to Carmen. In the past, I found her simply too tart for my taste, with a bitter undertone that was off-putting. With age, however, I've grown to enjoy her.  Perhaps I'm simply moving closer to her wavelength, who knows? It is marvelous and wonderful to have video footage of Carmen, Sarah, and Ella singing this classic on YouTube for millions of viewers to enjoy. Thanks for the upload!

[kalpubinc]

Carmen McRae, following the footsteps of her mentor Billy Holliday; and Billy Holliday's and Frank Sinatra's mentor Mable Mercer, knows how to tell a story. This is the first time I've heard this song and completely understood every nook and cranny, every nuance of the song. The pathos, the diction, the phrasing, and her communication with the audience are just masterful. She has something very specific to tell, and she conveys it from the bottom of her heart.

[iamcamilwilliams]

@kalpubinc : indeed! tried to put it to words but this sums it... thanks K!

[basariji]

thank u so much for this...i lost this dvd and have been mourning ever sense...wonderful...thank y so much....these young girls..their talent is so mal in comparison insofar as having a quality voice...thank u

[Tweekerhead]

Man love those pre-Star Trek-Spock eye brows.

[jamesmaseobrown]

@Tweekerhead LOL - I was thinking the same thing and was wondering am I awful for doing so.

[CCHS6Ballin]

Great & Classy

[bzockster]

So musical.  Wonderful phrasing. She really makes you believe she's suffering.

[BrunaoJazzistico]

She's one of my favorites. Love her style. So classy singin... cool.

[Christof787]

Pure class all the way. She is just beautiful,velvet an smooth.

[losbol48]

Superior vocalist and glad we have still such reasonable good tapes from TV (I presume).

[JATLOZ]

This movie aired on TV in the 60s, but was later released on DVD. (Jazz Casual Series)

[225gabi]

Very good, I like very much