A distinctive, girlish voice, crisp, impeccable delivery, and an irrepressible sense of playful swing made Blossom Dearie one of the most enjoyable singers of the vocal era. Her warmth and sparkle ensured that she'd never treat standards as the well-worn songs they often appeared in less capable hands. And though her reputation was made on record with a string of excellent albums for Verve during the '50s, she remained a draw with Manhattan cabaret audiences long into the new millennium.
Actually born with the name Blossom Dearie in the New York Catskills, she began playing piano at an early age and studied classical music before making the switch to jazz while in high school. After graduation, she moved to New York and began appearing with vocal groups like the Blue Flames (attached to Woody Herman) and the Blue Reys (with Alvino Rey). She also played cocktail piano around the city, and moved to Paris in 1952 to form her own group, the Blue Stars of France. Dearie also appeared in a nightclub act with Annie Ross, and made a short, uncredited appearance on King Pleasure's vocalese classic, "Moody's Mood for Love." She recorded an obscure album of piano solos, and in 1954, the Blue Stars hit the national charts with a French version of "Lullaby of Birdland."
After hearing Dearie perform in Paris in 1956, Norman Granz signed her to Verve and she returned to America by the end of the year. Her eponymous debut for Verve featured a set of standards that slanted traditional pop back to its roots in Tin Pan Alley, Broadway, and cabaret. Her focus on intimate readings of standards ("Deed I Do," "Thou Swell") and the relaxed trio setting (bassist Ray Brown and drummer Jo Jones, plus Dearie on piano) drew nods to her cabaret background.
On her next few records, Dearie stuck to her focus on standards and small groups, though her gift for songwriting emerged as well with songs like "Blossom's Blues." She performed in solo settings at supper clubs all over New York, and appeared on the more cultured of the late-'50s New York talk shows. Her husband, flutist Bobby Jaspar, made several appearances on her records, notably 1959's My Gentleman Friend. After a recording break in the early '60s, Blossom Dearie signed to Capitol for one album (1964's May I Come In?), but then recorded sparingly during the rest of the decade.
Finally, in the early '70s, she formed her own Daffodil Records label and began releasing her own work, including 1974's Blossom Dearie Sings and the following year's My Favorite Celebrity Is You. She also performed at Carnegie Hall with Anita O'Day and Joe Williams, billed as the Jazz Singers. She continued to perform and record during the 1980s, centered mostly in New York but also a regular attraction in London as well.
Télécharge gratuitement ma nouvelle chanson "En manque de toi" un bon zouk plein de douceur extrait de mon prochain album. Download free my new song "En manque de toi" from my upcoming album.
My Internet radio station will be playing music from the late Jazz chanteuse, including some of her most recognized tunes from the "Schoolhouse Rock!" series all this week.
R.I.P. Blossom. BMX Bandits are so sad to hear of Blossom's passing but we feel so lucky to have had the gifts of her wonderful music and her unique voice.
DOES ANYONE KNOW IF OR WHERE SHE'S PERFORMING IN NYC?
I'm flying across the US to NYC in a couple of weeks and one reason is to try and catch Blossom Dearie, because I don't know when I'll be back to New York.
Unfortunately, the place she's played at for years closed down and there's no contact and no web site on her.
yo how are you doing? your page is looking tight! anyway, i just grabbed some awesome new ring tones from www.tonetomyphone.info for FREE! they have the sweetest selection!
