When it comes to singers male or female, past or present, any genre, anywhere, there are few who can match the sensitivity of Elaine Delmar and in this, her latest album recorded on January 8, 2023, that quality is displayed with her trademark subtlety.
Stars: Composed by Fred Hersch with lyrics by Norma Winstone is a challenge for any vocalist. However, Delmar isn't just 'any vocalist' but is up there with Cleo and Norma as one of the all time British vocal greats.
It Might as Well be Spring: Gently swinging with Elaine, Green, Mullen and Thorpe proving you can achieve that much sort after quality with or without a drummer.
Let me Love You; Bart Howard may be best remembered for Fly me to the Moon, and justifiably so. However, he wrote at least another forty-nine songs including this one from 1953. In retrospect, it's the superior song. Whereas In Other Words, as Fly me was originally titled, had to be booted from 3/4 to 4/4 to make an impact Let me Love You doesn't need such a makeover - at least not when sung by Elaine Delmar.
Don't Sleep in the Subway: Petula Clark had a brash '60s hit with this Hatch/Trent song. Delmar is less brash. Both versions work but this is the one for the jazzers.
Close Your Eyes: A duet featuring singer and bass that is as close to perfection as you'll ever get with such a coupling. Intonation from both is absolutely spot on. It gave me goosebumps. I knew the song from way back but not the composer, Bernice Petkere who, it seems, lived to be 98 before she closed her eyes. If she is hearing this version of her song she will truly rest in peace. Another of her songs was Lullaby of the Leaves.
Send in the Clowns: A song by Sondheim is a challenge for any singer and, without mentioning names, there have been a few who tumbled. Not so here. Pat Smythe's arrangement for voice and piano puts it on a ± par with the version by Sassy.
Speak Low: The flute intro and subsequent accompaniment by Panayi along with Green's piano solo help make this yet another masterpiece.
If You Love Me: An Edith Piaf song that put money in the bank for Brenda Lee, Kay Starr and others but its true sophisticated content wasn't revealed until Shirley Horn's 1992 recording. Delmar continues in that elegant, laid back, mode aided and abetted by Jim Mullen.
There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York. I first heard this Gershwin song on the Miles Davis/Gil Evans recording of tunes from Porgy and Bess. It didn't take me long to decide that this was my favourite song from the show. Delmar's version upholds that opinion. Cool and swinging with more dexterous soling from fellow legends Mullen and Green.
Tea For Two: The Dorseys did Vincent Youmans' classic no favours when they recorded it as Tea For Two Cha-Cha. However, they could not desecrate the verse - they didn't play it! To me, Tea For Two without the verse is like a cup without a saucer. In Elaine's hands it's pure bone china Wedgewood.
I Won't Last a Day Without You: Jim Mullen's guitar solo catches the mood as does Barry Green on piano with Simon Thorpe underpinning it all as Delmar gently emotes.
Yours Sincerely: A short, appropriately titled, song from Rodgers and Hart's 1929 show Spring is Here. Just one chorus by voice and piano is all that was needed to close a beautiful album. Lance
Available to pre-order (in various formats via usual suspects or a record store near you (there's still a few). Release date July 19.
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