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Blossom Dearie

I don't know why I should have been so surprised that a Mr. & Mrs. Dearie named their daughter Blossom, and that no, it wasn't a nickname or stage-name, but I was. What we have here is a 1996 compilation, no. 51 in a series of Verve Jazz Masters releases, which brings together a selection of material recorded between 1956-60 and previously dispersed over half a dozen LPs. I found it in my local charity shop in a boxful of light jazz and easy listening CDs, all with a yellowish nicotine patina and a faint residual aroma of tobacco smoke.


Dearie's is a disarmingly small and girlish-sounding voice, but she makes of it a versatile instrument despite its limited power. An accomplished pianist, she accompanies herself on all but one of the tracks included here, joined by musicians such as Kenny Burrell, Ray Brown and Jo Jones. What stands out most are her thoughtful and effective arrangements, notably taking old chestnuts like 'Tea for Two' and 'Surrey With the Fringe on Top' and slowing them right down to a leisurely amble, meanwhile coaxing fresh life from their well-worn lyrics. Miles Davis was reportedly an admirer of her way with an unhurried tempo.

Conversely, she takes 'Down With Love', often sung slowly, at a very brisk pace, dispatching the whole thing in ninety-seven delightful seconds. Other highlights, for me, include the opener - 'They Say It's Sping' - and 'Bang Goes the Drum', both of which beautifully encapsulate the giddy feeling of falling in love.

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