Although not as essential as the first Classics
Maxine Sullivan CD, this set has its strong moments too.
Sullivan was always a simple and subtle singer who swung lightly and mostly stuck to the melody while uplifting the themes with her intelligent expressiveness. The first eight selections on this disc find her joined by
the John Kirby Sextet on such numbers as a remake of "Loch Lomond," "St. Louis Blues" and "My Ideal." The two numbers from March 19, 1942 ("Beside the River Clyde" and "How Do I Know It's Real") list the singer as again being joined by
Kirby's Sextet but the backup group is clearly larger and using slightly different instrumentation.
Sullivan is also heard backed by a rhythm section and strings on four selections, on two numbers apiece with
the Teddy Wilson Quintet and
Benny Carter's Orchestra (the young tenor
Dexter Gordon has a solo on "Looking for a Boy"), and performing six tunes (including several remakes) with strings, the prominent harp of
Laura Newell, a rhythm section, and clarinetist
Hank D'Amico. The 1944-46 titles have also been reissued by Tono, although the 1941-42 selections with
Kirby have long been scarce. In her early to mid-'30s at the time,
Maxine Sullivan sounds both youthful and mature during her interpretations, very much in prime form.