> I've never heard of Abbey Lincoln -- can someone give a brief CV of > her, suggest something to listen to -- or even if she's worth it?
Abbey Lincoln is more than a singer. She's an actress and that may account for the drama and feeling she imbues her songs. She composes, too and was married to Max Roach (their daughter Maxine is a great viola player). As a singer she may belong to the Billie Holiday, Lee Wiley, Cleo Laine type who chose to tell stories with their songs. Abbey released a lot of albums in the early 70s and 80s with two tribute albums to Billie as a standout. Her smoky approach to singing is in perfect sync with the songs associated to Lady Day. She also released an album called PEOPLE IN ME with a great and funny song with a catchy melody called "naturally" with lines like: "most women dress like queen of the night"... To me her best album is YOU GOTTA PAY THE BAND, featuring the sax great Stan Getz during his final year. He played with pure grace and with monumental swing still intact. Abbey composed "Bird Alone" in this album (later reworked by Dianne Reeves) and she, like Betty Carter in later years, use her voice as just one of the improvising instruments, giving other musicians enough room to improvise. Her other albums which are just as good include (in order) WHERE THERE IS LOVE (a duet album with pianist Hank Jones), THE WORLD IS FALLING DOWN (where she can be heard singing a French version of "How High the Moon"), A TURTLE'S DREAM, DEVIL'S GOT YOUR TONGUE and WHO USED TO DANCE (featuring the tap dancing of Savion Glover). I haven't acquired her latest WHOLLY EARTH. Her singing is quite unlike most ladies of jazz, preferring to flatten some notes to achieve a jazz feel. She is one of a kind, and yes, in a different category with Joni altogether. Not fair to compare them. I like Abbey as much as Joni, though. Joseph np: Grofe's The Grand Canyon Suite "Sunrise" (is that a real bird singing in "Sunrise" or just a piccolo?)
