This splendid, only occasionally uneven "blue" series continues with an entirely jazzy compilation, packed with inspired songs of love and the love of love. A famous variation on the crystalline version of "My Funny Valentine" by
Dinah Shore and
André Previn is offered up by the beyond brilliant
Chet Baker, bookending the album as its first and last cuts.
Nat King Cole beseeches, "Let there be you, let there be me/Let there be oysters, under the sea" in the endearing "Let There Be Love" as a duet with
George Shearing, who solos later with the transcendent musical question, "What Is This Thing Called Love?" The jazz instrumentals are the sexiest as well as the most romantic (really!), delivering an affectionate balance of clarinet, drums, and piano on
Sonny Clark's "Lover," as well as the bandstand classic "Loverman" with the great
Stan Kenton Orchestra. Absolutely no objections here. Stars
Peggy Lee,
Julie London,
Duke Pearson,
Lou Rawls, and
Hank Mobley win hearts all over again with celebrations of love that really exist, like actual valentines -- no songs of loss or jealousy, no fightin' words. A great garland of love: nothing unrequited here. ~ Becky Byrkit