At Ratso's Vol.1 [Live]

Editorial Reviews
Les Line, 52nd Street Jazz Review, May 2002
4.5 Star review

Music Magazine, September 2002
JazzTimes review by Christopher Loudon. September 2002 issue p104

Album Description
World class jazz vocalist Carmen McRae performed several nights at RatsoÕs in Chicago, 1976. Fortunately, the evenings were recorded capturing perhaps her finest hour in this intimate set ting. RatsoÕs lasted only about six years. Ms. McRaeÕs legacy will last forever. Magical performance s include "Hey John," "A Letter From Anna Lee," "All By Myself" and "Would You Believe." Artist biography: Carmen McRae spans four decades as a jazz vocal icon.

At Ratso's Vol.1 [Live]

Tracks:

Music
You And I
Elusive Butterfly
Lost Up In Loving You
Hey John
All By Myself
A Letter For Anna Lee
Ellington Medley: Satin Doll, Mood Indigo, I Didn't Know About You, It Don't Mean A Thing
Would You Believe
Them There Eyes
Dindi
I Am Music

Album Description

World class jazz vocalist Carmen McRae performed several nights at RatsoÕs in Chicago, 1976. Fortunately, the evenings were recorded capturing perhaps her finest hour in this intimate set ting. RatsoÕs lasted only about six years. Ms. McRaeÕs legacy will last forever. Magical performance s include "Hey John," "A Letter From Anna Lee," "All By Myself" and "Would You Believe." Artist biography: Carmen McRae spans four decades as a jazz vocal icon.

Customer Reviews:

Carmen in the '70's.......2003-10-01

This critically-acclaimed reissue finds Carmen in top form. She has the breath support to sustain tones and "sweeten" them, usually by attacking a syllable with incisive edginess, then finishing the sound with a pleasant, floating vibrato. And the dynamic contrasts that are so essential to her dramatic story-telling approach are in full force, allowing the accompanying trio to provide lots of lightning and thunder behind each of her "big" endings. Moreover, we sense the involvement of the audience (Woody Herman was present, and Carmen alludes to the earlier appearance of Teddy Wilson), despite the very relaxed persona projected by the artist on stage.

The problems with this recording are less Carmen's than the culture of the 1970's, a decade notorious for providing very little of substance for artists seeking to "connect" with contemporary tastes. Much if not most of the material belongs to the category of "period piece," and the instrumental back-up--reduced to playing lots of anemic triads and supplying obvious programmatic effects--reflects the skimpy opportunities present in the music. Unfortunately, the Ellington pieces represent the exception rather than the quality of the program as a whole.

The wonder is that Carmen makes music and drama out of this ephemera at all. But this album is unlikely to command repeated listenings--unless your attraction is less to Carmen the supreme jazz artist and more to Carmen the cabaret queen. I have yet to check out Vol. 2, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a more satisfying representation of Carmen's unique talent.

This CD is Absolute Awesome!!!!.......2003-06-22

I am a die hard Carmen McRae fan. I truly think that this is one of her best CD's besides the Monk CD that she did. I think that all of her songs on this CD is great. She is definitely an artist that should be ranked up there with all of the other greats like Ella, Sarah, and Billie. However, with the exception of Sarah, It seems that McRae got better with age. Every song shows how rich and controlled her voice remains throughout the CD. IF one person has not been introduced to McRae then this is it. Her rendition of You and I and Hey John is immaculate. What a voice.

Music:

Music

Music