Helen Merrill - Music Makers

This is an unusual album, for it features the always flexible singer Helen Merrill and keyboardist Gordon Beck on six trios apiece with either soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy or violinist Stephane Grappelli. Most of the selections are standards (exceptions being Merrill's "Music Makers" and Beck's "And Still She Is With Me"), but all of the songs sound quite fresh, partly due to the unusual instrumentation and also partly because of the players' inventiveness. Highlights include "'Round Midnight" and "When Lights Are Low" (both of which include Lacy) and "A Girl In Calico" and "Lady Be Good" with Grappelli. Read More