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 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