Blossom Dearie

Verve label chief Norman Granz saw the American Blossom Dearie perform in Paris (where she was a major part of the local jazz scene and a leader of the vocal group Les Blue Stars) and signed her to his Verve label. Blossom returned to New York and cut this debut with guitarist Herb Ellis and a crackerjack rhythm section consisting of Ray Brown and Jo Jones. The chanteuse puts her effervescent vocals on concert staples such as "Comment Allez Vous" and "Everything I've Got." Her piano playing is so good it's hard to believe her claim that she's not really a jazz improviser.