アーティスティックな音楽性が魅力のヴォーカリスト、シーラ・ジョーダンのデビュー作。伴奏は、ギターにベース、そしてドラムというピアノレスの布陣。シーラの最も利点とするところは、声を自在に操る器楽的唱法でありながら曲の聴き所、聴かせ所を外さないこと。どのナンバーも群を抜く出来栄えだが、「AM I BLUE」や「WHEN THE WORLD WAS YOUNG」、「I’M A FOOL TO WANT YOU」など、スロー・ナンバーでの情感豊かなボーカルが胸を打つ。「DAT DERE」はベース、「WHO CAN I TURN TO NOW」はギターとのデュオで、ヴォーカルとプレイヤーのインティメートな対話が心地好い。黒い背景から浮かび上がる横顔。ジャケットの魅力も特筆もの。
Sheila Jordan es una de las cantantes de jazz más creativas y una de las pocas vocalistas que puede improvisar letras, que a menudo riman, y también poner emocion en las baladas. Esta grabación es un claro ejemplo de su talento y capacidad. Muy recomendable.
Sheila Jeanette Dawson, born in Detroit in 1929, fell in love with bebop as soon as she heard it, and was strongly influenced by the music of Charlie Parker. On his recommendation, she moved to New York City in 1951; and the following year she married pianist Duke Jordan. She began singing in small New York clubs in 1959; and, in 1962, she was heard by (and recorded a single track with) composer and leader George Russell. He it was who persuaded Alfred Lion, the head of Blue Note, to record this - her debut - album. It is a unique album - 12 numbers, mainly fine standards - with Sheila's voice at his best, backed by an excellent, and sympathetic, trio. This album also includes 2 bonus tracks - her very first recording, and the track that she had recorded with George Russell. Because of her family commitments (bringing up her daughter), she recorded little during the next 15 years, but eventually, in the late-1980s, she turned to singing full-time.