Chris Connor's smoky voice made her a natural fit for torch songs, but her flair for improvisation expanded her considerable talents to include upbeat material as well.
Free Spirits, an excellent small-group date arranged for her by
Al Cohn, features
Connor in a range of settings; remember, free spirits don't necessarily mean high spirits. The choices for material also range far and wide. A trio of
Ellington evergreens anchor the set, but she also includes material from
Peggy Lee,
Oscar Brown, Jr., Leiber & Stoller's "Kansas City," and
Billie Holiday's nearly untouchable "God Bless the Child." It helps that she gets expressive accompaniment from an all-star lineup -- alto
Phil Woods, tenor
Oliver Nelson, and a pair of all-time trumpeters (
Clark Terry and
Joe Newman). Despite the title, the only concept at work here is her ability to captivate a listening audience with a wide-ranging set. ~ John Bush