AVID Jazz continues with its Four Classic Albums series with a re-mastered 2CD release from Helen Humes, complete with original artwork, liner notes and personnel details; ‘Songs I Like To Sing’; ‘Swingin’ With Humes’; ‘Helen Humes’ plus a bonus ‘album’ of 14 Classic vintage singles. AVID will admit we have taken our time in paying tribute to the great Helen Humes, but we wanted to get it right, we wanted to select the best albums that truly captured Miss Hume’s huge vocal talents. We had her first three albums already lined up when she decided to take a break from recording that lasted until 1973! How would we make up our fourth album? How about some of her early singles? Hey presto, with a little bit of searching we found 14 super sides recorded by Miss Humes between 1927 and 1955. Our double album set was complete. We decided to start CD1 with her second and third alums and follow on CD2 with her first release followed by the classic early singles, we think it worked out pretty well. Helen Humes, born in Louisville Kentucky in 1913 was steeped in the blues and gospel music from a young age via the church and this comes across strongly in her vocal performances. She performed with amongst others the Harry James big band, Count Basie’s Orchestra and was accompanied by such musical luminaries as likes of Art Tatum and Teddy Wilson! The high regard she was held in can be seen by the incredible line up of jazz musicians who are featured on these fine selections including the following... Art Pepper, Ben Webster, Teddy Edwards, Al Porcino, Shelly Manne, Stu Williamson, Andre Previn, Barney Kessel, Leroy Vinnegar, Joe Gordon, Wynton Kelly, Benny Carter, Frank Rosolino, Mel Lewis and on the classic singles she is backed by amongst others Bill Doggett, Count Basie, Buck Clayton, Harry James and Marshall Royal.