Carmen McRae – Bittersweet (1964)

01. When Sunny Gets Blue 
02. How Did He Look 
03. Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry 
04. The Meaning Of The Blues 
05. If You Could Love Me 
06. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most 
07. Second Chance 
08. If You Could See Me Now 
09. Here's That Rainy Day 
10. I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life 
11. Ghost Of Yesterday 
12. I'm Lost 
13. Come Sunday

Curtis Boyd - Drums
Mundell Lowe - Guitar
Carmen McRae 	- Piano, Vocals
Norman Simmons - Piano
Victor Sproles - 	Bass

Carmen McRae made many worthwhile albums during her long career, but this session of mostly melancholy ballads never received the exposure it deserved, possibly because it was done for Mort Fega's small independent label, Focus. But the singer, who is in top form throughout the date, responds beautifully to pianist Norman Simmons' well-crafted charts; the rest of the cast includes drummer Curtis Boyd; bassist Victor Sproles; and a last minute but valuable substitute, guitarist Mundell Lowe. Her dramatic lagging behind the beat in "The Meaning of the Blues" adds to its appeal. "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most" is the only extended piece and was already a regular part of her repertoire by the time of this recording, so her effortless take is no surprise. McRae was an excellent pianist and accompanies herself on the defiant "I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out of My Life." Duke Ellington's meditative "Come Sunday" provides a ray of hope among the otherwise bittersweet songs on this CD. Fortunately, Koch had the wisdom to reissue this lost treasure, and it easily ranks among Carmen McRae's best recordings. ---Ken Dryden, Rovi

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