At Newport, 1988, and Jazz Casual, 1962
Today is Carmen McRae’s 94th birthday anniversary. Born in Harlem to a Costa Rican-born father and Jamaican-born mother, Carmen came of age with modern jazz and enjoyed friendships with many of its early innovators. A wry sense of humor came through in her singing, which tended to push at the harmonic edge of her material.
Carmen recorded a classic tribute to her idol Billie Holiday in 1961, and later tributes to Sarah Vaughan, Nat King Cole, and Thelonious Monk. She sang several tunes from her new album, Carmen Sings Monk, at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1988, where she was accompanied by a trio featuring pianist Eric Gunnison, bassist Scott Colley, and drummer Mark Pulice. For the Monk tunes, she’s joined by the great saxophonist Clifford Jordan, who also played on the album.
Carmen’s appearance on Jazz Casual in 1962 followed the release of Carmen McRae Sings Lover Man and Other Billie Holiday Classics. Accompanists here include Norman Simmons, piano; Vcitor Sproles, bass; and Walter Perkins, drums. Carmen’s set begins with a tune from the Holiday memorial, “I’m Gonna Lock My Heart and Throw Away the Key,” then following a conversation with host Ralph J. Gleason about jazz singing, she sings “Trouble Is a Man,” “If You Never Fall in Love With Me (Del Sasser).” “Round Midnight,” and “Love for Sale.”