Hoagy Sings Carmichael

Personnel includes: Hoagy Carmichael (vocals); Harry Klee (flute, alto saxophone); Mort Friedman (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Marty Berman (bass clarinet, baritone saxophone); Art Pepper (alto saxophone); Harry "Sweets" Edison, Don Fagerquist, Conrad Gozzo, Ray Linn (trumpet); Al Hendrickson (guitar); Jimmy Rowles (piano, celeste); Ralph Pena, Joe Mondragon (bass); Nick Fatool, Irv Cottler (drums).
Recorded at Forum State Theatre, Los Angeles, California on September 10, 11 & 13, 1956. Includes liner notes by George Frazier.
Hoagy Carmichael's last significant recording is a project whose format should have been repeated in later years. Sticking to vocals, Carmichael performs ten of his compositions including "Georgia on My Mind," "New Orleans," "Skylark," "Baltimore Oriole," "Rockin' Chair," and "Lazy River." What is unusual is that he is accompanied by an 11-piece all-star jazz group and that his voice takes its turn with trumpeters Harry "Sweets" Edison and Don Fagerquist, altoist Art Pepper, and pianist Jimmy Rowles. The match up works quite well, for Hoagy's songs have long been viable devices for jazz improvising. [The CD reissue of this unique set adds a previously unreleased instrumental rendition of "Georgia on My Mind" to the already impressive program.] ~ Scott Yanow