Shirley Horn "The Very Thought Of You"

Shirley Valerie Horn (May 1, 1934 in Washington, D.C. October 20, 2005) was an American jazz singer and pianist.


Shirley Horn collaborated with many jazz greats including Miles Davis (they influenced each other), Dizzy Gillespie, Toots Thielemans, Ron Carter, Carmen McRae, Wynton Marsalis and others. She was most noted for her ability to accompany herself with nearly incomparable independence and ability on the piano while singing, something described by arranger Johnny Mandel as "like having two heads", and for her rich, lush voice, a smoky contralto (that occasionally rose to a glorious, ringing belt), which was described by noted producer and arranger Quincy Jones as "like clothing, as she seduces you with her voice". Although she could swing as strongly as any straight-ahead jazz artist, Horn's reputation rode on her exquisite ballad work. She tended to take love songs at a glacial tempo, expertly weaving her soft singing (typically in whispery, short phrases like wisps of cigarette smoke) with her gorgeous Impressionist piano chordings and unique dynamic control (a clear example of her artistry can be found in her cover of Jule Styne's The Music that Makes Me Dance, found on her albumYou Won't Forget Me).

Horn has also been cited by noted Canadian jazz singer and pianist Diana Krall as a major inspiration and influence. Horn is thought by some to be one of a quartet of America's "great jazz divas", along with Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Shirley
• Horn
• The Very Thought Of You
• Jazz

[amtrakatsfnyc]

So gentle, so soft, so comforting, so beautiful... God Bless you Shirley.. We miss you.

[frenyardeshir]

There just isn't a more perfect version of this song. Shirley Horn's piano and vocals leave me totally speechless - every time.

[loulou2lou]

Wish you could be here with us.Wish I could say how much I adore you.

[spadge1able]

just fantastic.gamma stuff.

[blackandtanful]

弾き語りの名手、ｼｬｰﾘｰ･ﾎｰﾝ、ｽﾃｨｰﾌﾟﾙ･ﾁｪｲｽ­盤で,多少ﾒｼﾞｬｰになったが､いつまでも知る人ぞ知る存在で­欲しい,圧巻"TheVeryThoughtOfYou" #jazzm 

[1lovemocha]

What a lady.

[Higbby]

magnificent xxx Thank you

[n2movies2]

@ChristophePhilippe

what a lovely complement! NOW listen to her version of FEVER...;)

[shopgirllewis]

to many tears when I here this wonderful song...your missed

[michezulu]

All the divas covere this tune. I love the Billie version.

[ManagerGuy1]

RIP God bless. You were so great and you left so much great music for us. RIP