With the exception of one song cut with
Charles Mingus in 1946 and two with
King Curtis later in the 1950s, this single CD (which consists of
Helen Carr's two Bethlehem albums) has the complete output of the talented but short-lived singer who died in 1960 at age 36.
Carr's interpretations fall between jazz and middle-of-the-road pop, yet her treatments of the standards consistently swing and uplift the material. On one occasion she is joined by a quintet with husband/pianist
Donn Trenner, trumpeter
Don Fagerquist and altoist
Charlie Mariano, while the other session finds
Carr interacting quite winningly with a trio consisting of guitarist
Howard Roberts, bassist
Red Mitchell and the muted (but fiery) trumpet of
Cappy Lewis. Recommended.