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Eddie Jefferson, the jazz singer, who is universally credited with creating the jazz solo vocal line made this famous recording in 1959. It was produced by Herb Abramson, a founder of Atlantic Records. He subsequently sold the masters to Inner City, a jazz label that had a meteoric rise and fall between 1978 and 1982. This recording has languished in that company’s vault until now.
The music includes the most famous songs associated with Jefferson, including Moody’s Mood For Love, a paraphrase on the standard, I’m In The Mood For Love, Body & Soul, So What, Night Train, Sister Sadie, Now Is The Time. James Moody, the composer of the unique solo on Moody’s Mood For Love is featured on this recording along with Howard McGee on trumpet, one of the bop eras shining stars.
Abramson, who’s discovery of such stars as Ray Charles and Ruth Brown, knew a good thing when he heard it. These vocals abound with skill, melody, and great enthusiasm. They were the forerunners of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, Annie Ross, King Pleasure, and the Manhattan Transfer.
Eddie Jefferson was the founder of vocalese, which is writing and singing words that fit recorded solos (rather than a song's melody). There were actually two instances of vocalese decades before Jefferson arrived on the scene. Bee Palmer in 1928 and Marion Harris in 1934 both sang vocalese versions of “Singing The Blues” (based on Bix Beiderbecke and Frank Trumbauer solos). But since Palmer's recording was not released until the 1980s and Harris' was only put out in England, it is very doubtful that Jefferson was familiar with either performance.
Jefferson, who was born in 1918, began his career as a dancer. In the late 1940s, inspired by top bebop musicians including Charlie Parker, he began composing and singing vocalese. He wrote the lyrics to James Moody's solo on “I'm In The Mood For Love” which was retitled “Moody's Mood For Love,” although King Pleasure. had the hit recording. Jefferson, who began recording in 1952, worked with James Moody during 1953-57 and 1968-73. Otherwise he performed mostly as a single during a career that had its ups and downs. An inspiration for Jon Hendricks, Annie Ross, Mark Murphy and many of the jazz singers that followed him, Jefferson may not have had the greatest voice but he did an awful lot with what he had. His expertise at writing vocalese has only been matched by Hendricks and, more recently Kurt Elling. Eddie Jefferson was finally being recognized as a masterful jazz singer when his life was tragically cut short in 1979.
The Jazz Singer is one of the greatest all-round recordings of Jefferson's career. The music was recorded during 1959-61 and among the many highlights are the singer's tribute to Coleman Hawkins on “Body And Soul” (based on the tenor's solo), Miles Davis' “So What,” a remake of “Moody's Mood For Love,” and Lester Young's solos on “It's Only A Paper Moon” and “Lester Leaps In” (renamed “I've Got The Blues”). The latter is one of four previously unreleased selections from the sessions.
Review
"The supporting cast includes trumpeter Howard McGhee, James Moody on tenor and a few background vocalists including Babs Gonzalez. Throughout, Eddie Jefferson is heard at the peak of his creative powers during a set that is both innovative and delightful." -Scott Yanow
"Eddie Jefferson is known as the founder of vocalese, the art of writing and singing words to recorded solos. The Jazz Singer is his definitive album, a set that is overflowing with highpoints. Recorded during 1959-61, Jefferson pays tribute to Coleman Hawkins on "Body And Soul" (based on Hawkins' famous solo), and is also featured on such gems as Miles Davis' "So What," Lester Young's solos in "Its Only A Paper Moon" and "Lester Leaps In," and Jefferson's famous lyrics to "Moody's Mood For Love." Eddie Jefferson is heard throughout at the peak of his powers." -Scott Yanow
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