Marlena Shaw "Look At Me, Look At You (We're Flying)" (1977)

From her 1977 album "Sweet Beginnings"

While everyone agrees that Marlena Shaw is a national treasure, its difficult to categorize her. Both Downbeat and Record World have named her Best Female Singer, and many have compared her range, class and swing that of to eternal jazz lights like Sarah Vaughn, Dinah Washington, and Nancy Wilson. But shes also been called a soul legend, both before and after her successful detour into disco. Marlenas a lyricist and composer as well -- for example, her ballad You was recorded by both Stanley Turrentine and Benny Golson.

Given her 40-year boundary-busting career, such labeling confusion is inevitable. Its easier and more descriptive to think of Marlena as a natural element: like water, which we recognize in a gleaming dewdrop or clear mountain stream, Marlenas music is unmistakable. Whether shes singing jazz, R&B, pop, rock, soul, disco, blues or gospel, her originality makes such distinctions irrelevant, and each song becomes intimate and new. Marlena is a soulful survivor whos been there, and more than once. But her music is never heavy -- where others might communicate pain or despair, she offers wisdom and hope, laced with humor.

Born in Valhalla, New York and raised on gospel and jazz, Marlenas first public performance was at the age of 10, at the legendary Apollo Theater. Her activities since then have been as diverse as her legions of fans. Marlena has fronted big bands and orchestras, among them Basies (both original and new). Frank Fosters Loud Minority Band, the Cologne Big Band, the Smithsonian and Seattle Repertory Orchestras, and the US Army Blues Band. Shes performed and recorded with Ray Brown, Benny Carter, and Joe Williams, toured with Sammy Davis Jr. for four years, and graced every major jazz festival in the world, as well as top venues like Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Its not unusual for Marlena to be on the road over 200 days a year.

The first woman vocalist ever signed to Blue Note Records, where she made five albums and several singles, Marlenas recording career actually began in 1966 with Cadet Records (a subsidiary of the ground-breaking Chess Records). Along with hit singles like Wade in the Water, California Soul, and Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (which she co-wrote, and which first brought her to Count Basies attention), she made two well-received albums. At Columbia Records there were four more, including the disco smash, Take a Bite!, and Verve and Concord followed.

In 2000, her tremendous overseas popularity led to Anthology, a splendid collection from Londons Soul Brother Records, and two hits for Sony Japan: Live in Tokyo (2002) and Lookin for Love (2003, both released in the US by 441 Records). The critics use words like astonishing, peerless, radiant and powerful, and marvel at her soaring sensuality. Marlenas appeal is so timeless that her songs have even been sampled by the download generation.

Marlena is universally admired for her warm, supple voice and relaxed charm; a natural storyteller, her spoken words before, during, and between songs is often hilarious. In fact, the set-up to her signature tune, Go Away, Little Boy has become a famous monologue in itself, entitled Yu-Ma. Marlenas smiling, spontaneous interplay with both her band and her audience invites the listener in like a valued friend.

But despite her long experience, theres no slickness or pretense in Marlenas style. Communicating directly from her heart and soul to yours, her undiminished creative vitality has no artificial ingredients. Like water -- or a welcome breath of fresh air Marlena is an all-natural element.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Marlena
• Shaw
• Look At You (We're Flying)
• Sweet
• Beginnings
• R&B

[damienkellyuk]

Sheer escapism + fantasy, a piece of art painted by tones of one classy diva.

[Threeload]

Sheer bliss, I got hooked on this track when I moved to London in the mid 90's. Heard it all the time on the Greg Edwards Jazz FM show.

[blackandtanful]

全てを魅了したｽｰﾊﾟｰ･ｸﾛｽｵｰヴｧｰ･ｳｰﾏﾝ､ﾏﾘｰ­ﾅ･ｼｮｳ､ﾃﾞｯｶ時代の傑作ｸﾞﾙｰヴ･ﾁｭｰﾝ"Look At Me Look At You"～思わずほくそ笑むﾈ! #jazzm

[unoedosser]

@rovingeye2 yo wheres the image at 0.12 from?

[Unique9773]

This lady is another great talent that I had the pleasure of seeing at the Bijou Cafe in Philly. She put on a very fulfilling show. The house was smoking. If you like sweet jazz listen to "Go Away Little Boy" and "Sweet Beginnings".

[FakeDeath92]

if someone don't sample this they are idiots

[Garber1956]

Sweet

[bsyrmas]

very jazzy, cool and smooth. makes you feel good

[mokacode]

@josealonsoleon Haven't had a smoke for quite a while....miss it ....LOL

[josealonsoleon]

@mokacode slow down on the stuff my friend....mouahahahaha

[urbanstrut]

Brilliance.

[tootieluvsmusic]

This is the kind of song you put on when you need to get away from it all. It's simply a beautiful easy-breezy track delivered perfectly by a beautiful classy lady!