Just where
Johnny Hartman's name ends up in the pantheon of great jazzy
pop singers is still left open to debate. But his talents and mastery of a lyric come to the fore on this marvelous two-CD set of tunes cherry-picked from his long, if not particularly prolific, career, leaving no doubt about his prodigious talents.
Hartman went through label affiliations like some folks go through underwear, and this 38-track overview samples his best for
RCA Victor,
Regent, Bethlehem,
Mercury,
Jubilee,
ABC-Paramount,
Roost,
Impulse! and the Japanese branch of
Capitol, beginning in 1947 and winding up in 1972. Marvelous one-off singles proliferate throughout
Collection: 1947-1972, providing sparkling performances with
Dizzy Gillespie & His Orchestra (
"I Should Care"),
Perez Prado Orchestra (
"Wild") and versions of
"The World Was Mine" and
"I See Your Face Before Me" (featuring
Howard McGhee) well-worth the price of admission. Other highlights include his work with
jazz giants like
John Coltrane (
"My One and Only Love," "Lush Life"),
Hank Jones,
Kenny Burrell (
"In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning") and
Illinois Jacquet (
"Don't You Know I Care") and two 1996 string-section dates that produce stellar readings of
"The Very Thought of You," "Unforgettable," "If I Had You," "As You Desire Me," "When I Get the Time" and
"I Cover the Waterfront." An artist of immeasurable talent certainly deserving of a wider audience. ~ Cub Koda