Helen Merrill (album)

Helen Merrill
Studio album by Helen Merrill
Released	1955
Recorded	December 22-24, 1954
Genre	Vocal jazz
Length	32:33
Label	EmArcy
Helen Merrill chronology
Helen Merrill (1955) Helen Merrill with Strings (1955)Helen Merrill with Strings1955

Helen Merrill is the debut studio album by Helen Merrill, accompanied by trumpeter Clifford Brown.^[1]

Merrill recorded a tribute album to Brown in 1995.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[2]

The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album four and a half stars and said that "The music is essentially straight-ahead bop, yet the seven standards...are uplifted by the presence of Merrill (in top form) and Brown".^[1]

Track listing

1. "Don't Explain" (Arthur Herzog Jr., Billie Holiday) - 5:08
2. "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To" (Cole Porter) - 4:17
3. "What's New?" (Bob Haggart, Johnny Burke) - 4:56
4. "Falling in Love with Love" (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart) - 3:52
5. "Yesterdays" (Otto Harbach, Jerome Kern) - 5:56
6. "(I Was) Born to Be Blue" (Mel Tormé, Bob Wells) - 5:12
7. "'S Wonderful" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) - 3:12

Personnel

• Helen Merrill - vocals
• Clifford Brown - trumpet
• Danny Bank - bass clarinet, flute, baritone saxophone
• Jimmy Jones - piano
• Barry Galbraith - guitar
• Milt Hinton - double bass (tracks 1, 2, 6, and 7)
• Osie Johnson - drums (tracks 1, 2, 6, and 7)
• Oscar Pettiford - cello, double bass (tracks 3, 4, and 5)
• Bobby Donaldson - drums (tracks 3, 4, and 5)
• Quincy Jones - arranger, conductor

References