Jasmine presents a casual overview of selections from Pearl Bailey’s first ten years as a recording artist (1945-1955). Picking up where Fats Waller left off, this gorgeous, powerful, and witty woman dismantled all kinds of long-established presentational conventions by half-singing, half-talking her way through every song she ever handled. On this compilation the two best examples of her as a solo act are “I Ain’t Talkin’” and “Solid Gold Cadillac.” Pearl’s collaborations with the Charioteers are fun and her rowdy duets with Hot Lips Page are delightful; “The Hucklebuck” is an intimate riot and “It’s a Great Feeling” successfully conveys the optimistic joy of mutual love and affection. “Saturday Night Fish Fry” appears to be a long-lost rehearsal take of the famous Pearl Bailey/Jackie “Moms” Mabley duet of 1949. The inclusion of these wonderful recordings places this little anthology among the best entries in Pearl Bailey’s digital discography. – arwulf arwulf
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