ANITA O'Day: INDESTRUCTIBLE

the trailer for an upcoming documentary on Anita O'Day's life.

• Category

  Music

[jimnick1]

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

[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.

[pafuka]

I checked out some of the other singers you recommended and I really liked some of them. Lorez Alexandria in particular. Thanks for the tip!

[pafuka]

You're right. Actually the tone of my comments were intemperate for which I apologise. I also agree that Anita O'Day had a small voice compared with many of the people you prefer but don't necessarily see that as a fatal deficiency. After all, many people said the same thing about Lester Young when they compared him unfavourably to Coleman Hawkins in his early years. Anyway respect to you for keeping things civil.

[EXQUISITESOUNDS]

Respectfully sir, to each his own.

[pafuka]

So Anita O'Day had intonation problems and her scatting was "riddled with affectations" but Jerri Winters who sounds like two different people when she changes registers and who has a ridiculously wide and heavy handed vibrato which she applies continuously, lyric-and-melody-be-damned, is fine in your book? You can't be serious. You either have a tin ear or the anti-O'Day thing is some weird hobby horse of yours.

[Urwah Umar Abdullah]

EXQUISITESHITSOUNDS to the one with the bad taste calling him- /or herself EXQUISITESOUNDS. Are you a critic, you are the lousiest one, are you a historian you are a joke. How to spend valuable time only for SHIT!

[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.

[EXQUISITESOUNDS]

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.

[EXQUISITESOUNDS]

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.