Personnel:

Toni harper (vcl), Dizzy Gillespie, Harry Edison (tp), Melba Liston (tb), Willie Smith (as), Curtis Amy (ts), Clyde Dunn (bs), Oscar Peterson, Eddie Beal (p), Herb Ellis (g), Ray Brown, George Bledsoe (b), Alvin Stoller, Albert Bartee (d)

In 1956, when Toni Harper was just eighteen years old, she made her first album for Norman Granzs Verve, the label he had started earlier that year.

For her debut Harper, who had already made an impact as an almostbaby singer, was backed by none other than Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown, and Alvin Stoller. On display were all the traits that had made her a success: a good voice, a knack for swing, and brilliant intonation. She had traces of Sarah Vaughan in her singing, without ever becoming derivative or getting stuck in any one style.

All I want now, she said, is to become a good, versatile singer. To underline that, this fine release also includes two recordings she did with Dizzy Gillespie, four tunes issued on two singles with an orchestra under the direction of Buddy Bregman; two tracks from her appearance on the TV show Stars of Jazz, and one last song arranged and conducted by Marty Paich - a handful of great performances by an outstanding singer.

TRACKLIST:

01. Cant We Be Friends?

02. I Could Write a Book

03. Gone with the Wind

04. Singin in the Rain

05. Love for Sale

06. Just A-Sittin and A-Rockin

07. A Foggy Day

08. You Dont Know What Love Is

09. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

10. Little Girl Blue

11. You Took Advantage of Me

12. Like Someone In Love

13. Taking a Chance on Love

14. Play Me the Blues

15. Love Is a Wonderful Thing

16. I Telephoned, I Telegraphed

17. Weve Got to Live, Got to Grow

18. My Memory Book

19. Them There Eyes

20. Bewitched (Bothered and Bewildered)

21. Petals on the Pond

Personnel:

Tracks #1-12: The Oscar Peterson Quartet

Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (g), Ray Brown (b), Alvin Stoller (d).

Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, December 29, 1955, and January 6, 1956

Tracks #13-14: Dizzy Gillespie and His Orchestra

Dizzy Gillespie, Harry Edison (tp), Melba Liston (tb), Willie Smith (as),Curtis Amy (ts), Clyde Dunn (bar), Eddie Beal (p), George Bledsoe (b), Albert Bartee (d).

Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, November 8, 1955

Tracks #15-18: The Buddy Bregman Orchestra

Milt Bernhart, Joe Howard, Lloyd Ulyate, Si Zentner (tb), Wilbur Schwartz, Maurice Stein, Ted Nash, Bob Cooper, Dale Issenhuth (saxes & woodwinds), Paul Smith (p), Barney Kessel (g), Joe Mondragon (b), Alvin Stoller (d). Plus string section (8 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, harp) added on tracks #15 and 18.

Recorded at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, February 23, 1956

Tracks #19-20: Eddie Beal Trio

Eddie Beal (p), Red Mitchell (b), Frank Capp (d, perc).

Recorded at ABC Studios, Stars of Jazz TV show, February 18, 1957

Track #21: Orchestra Arranged & Conducted by Marty Paich

Dominick Fera, Lurie Mitchell, Bud Shank (cl), Jimmy Rowles (p, celeste), Bill Pitman (g), Joe Mondragon (b), Mel Lewis (d), 10 violins; 4 violas; 4 cellos, Kathryn Julye, harp.

Recorded at R.C.A. Victor Studios, Hollywood, April 29, 1960

Produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol

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