Joy Bryan

MAKE THE MAN LOVE ME + JOY BRYAN SINGS (2 LPS ON 1 CD)

 

Personnel:

Joy Bryan (vcl) with Wynton Kelly (p), Al Viola (g), Leroy Vinnegar (b), Frank Butler (d) / Jack Sheldon (tp), Bob Enevoldsen (cl, bcl, vtb), Herb Geller (cl, as), Ronny Lang (cl, bs, as), Marty Paich (p), Red Mitchell (b), Mel Lewis (d)

 

Reference: FSRCD 699

 

As a jazz singer, Joy Bryan still alive at the time of writing (2012) was a natural. Despite that, the two LPs collected here are the only albums she ever made. Highly regarded by some of the finest jazz musicians in the 50s and early 60s, when she recorded them, Bryan sang with an unaffected warmth and innate feel for the music.

Its particularly true of Make The Man Love Me, where she fronts a superb rhythm section in Wynton Kelly - whose work as accompanist and soloist must be among the best this great pianist ever recorded - Leroy Vinnegar and Frank Butler, with Al Viola added on guitar. There are captivating versions of the title track, My Romance, My Funny Valentine, These Foolish Things and, above all, Old Devil Moon, where she handles the shifting metres with total aplomb.

The second album, Joy Bryan Sings, made four years earlier, includes West Coast jazz royalty in Marty Paich, Herb Geller, Jack Sheldon, Bob Enevoldsen, Red Mitchell, Mel Lewis, and Ronnie Lang. And though Paichs arrangements made it a tighter date than its successor, there are accomplished contributions from Sheldon and Geller in particular, with Bryan poised and at her best on an arresting Round Midnight.

 

 

Tracklisting:

 

01. My Romance (Rodgers-Hart) 2:57

02. Make The Man Love Me (Fields-Schwartz) 4:56

03. Almost Like Being In Love (Lerner-Loewe) 3:28

04. It Never Entered My Mind (Rodgers-Hart) 4:02

05. East Of The Sun (Bowman) 3:36

06. Aren't You Glad You're You? (Van Heusen-Burke) 3:30

07. My Funny Valentine (Rodgers-Hart) 3:54

08. Old Devil Moon (Harburg-Lane) 4:06

09. These Foolish Things (Link-Strachey-Marvell) 3:31

10. Everything's Coming Up Roses (Sondheim-Styne) 3:31

11. I Was Doin' All Right (G.& I. Gershwin) 3:00

12. Round Midnight (Hanighen-Monk-Williams) 3:13

13. My Shining Hour (Arlen-Mercer) 1:50

14. When The World Was Young (Block-Mercer) 3:56

15. Mississippi Mud (Barris-Cavanaugh) 3:13

16. My Heart Stood Still (Rodgers-Hart) 2:45

17. You're My Everything (Warren-Young-Dixon) 2:31

18. When It's Sleepy Time Down South (Rene-Muse) 3:48

19. Swinging On a Star (Burke-Van Heusen) 3:11

20. What Is There To say? (Duke-Harburg) 2:35

21. Down The Old Ox Road (Coslow-Johnston) 3:07

22. I Could Write A Book (Rodgers-Hart) 2:07

 

 

Original Sources:

 

Tracks #1-10, from the 12" album

Make the Man Love Me (Contemporary S7604)

 

Tracks #11-22, from the 12" album

Joy Bryan Sings (Mode LP-108)

 

 

 

Personnel on #1-10:

 

Joy Bryan (vocals), accompanied by Wynton Kelly (piano); Al Viola (guitar); Leroy Vinnegar (bass); Frank Butler (drums).

 

Recorded at Contemporary Records Studio, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, July 26, 28 & 29, 1961.

 

 

Personnel on #11-22:

 

Joy Bryan (vocals), accompanied by Marty Paich Septet

Jack Sheldon (trumpet); Bob Enevoldsen (clarinet, bass clarinet, valve trombone); Herb Geller (clarinet, alto sax); Ronny Lang (clarinet, baritone, alto sax); Marty Paich (piano); Red Mitchell (bass); Mel Lewis (drums).

 

Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, June 12, 1957.

 

 

 

Producers: Lester Koenig (#1-10) / Red Clyde (#11-22)

Engineers: Roy DuNann (#1-10) / Dayton Howe (#11-22)

Photos & cover art by Roger Marshutz (Contemporary)

Eva Diana (Mode)

Joy Bryan photo by Dave Pell

 

Produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol

 

Stereo · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered