Lavern Baker Sings Bessie Smith - LaVern Baker - In 1958 a renowned R & B singer entered the recording studio with a band composed of first-rate stars to record a dozen pieces from the repertoire of one of the greatest blues legends. The somewhat démodé style of this tribute made by LaVern Baker to the incomparable Bessie Smith might seem a bit strange between famous R & B songs and the incessant productivity of the Motown record company, but despite all it aroused considerable interest among the public, for reasons that are easily understandable. From the first song that opens this album, "Gimme a Pigfoot", the engaging bass line helps to evoke the atmosphere of the American dance halls of the 1920s. The blues duets with the trumpet ("Baby Doll" and "I Is not Gonna Play No Second Fiddle") alternate with swing rhythms from very strong orchestration ("On Revival Day") and blues with impeccable elegance ("Black Water Blues "), ensuring great fun and listening to rare pleasure. The great musicians who are part of the band seem to be taken from an encyclopedia of jazz, with Nat Pierce, Buck Clayton, Paul Quinichette, Urbie Green and Jimmy Cleveland, who crown the fantastic sound of their interpretation with relaxed solos and pleasant listening, in a perfectly balanced soundstage, which could appear more realistic only in a live concert. Incidentally, the fans of traditional swing for big bands can only love this wonderful album. This extraordinary re-presentation of the Speakers Corner has been realized with strictly analogical technology, using the original analogue tapes and a completely analog remastering procedure, from the master to the engraving head. Finally, it should be emphasized that the German label has paid all royalties and royalties, a fact not at all obvious nowadays. Record made in 1958 by sound engineer Tom Dowd and producer Nesuhi Ertegun. LaVern Baker, voice - Nat Pierce, piano - Paul Quinichette, tenor sax - Buck Clayton, trumpet - Jimmy Cleveland, trombone - Urbie Green, trombone - Vic Dickenson, trombone - Wendell Marshall, double bass - Danny Baker, guitar - Jerome Richardson, baritone sax - Sahib Shihab, baritone sax - Joe Marshall, drums