Peggy Lee - Mink Jazz

17 Lustrous Diamonds

Not a compilation of her greatest "hits," this album from a musician's point of view ranks with Peggy's two mid-1950s Deccas, "Black Coffee" and "Dream Street," as one of her three most indispensable sessions (though no Peggy Lee collection is complete without the elusive but sublime "The Shining Sea," a tune Peggy penned with help from Johnny Mandel).

The truth of the matter is that practically anything by Peggy Lee from the early '50s to the late '70s is "can't miss." The exceptions are those recordings on which, like Sinatra, Ella, Carmen McRae and others, she tried to reach a larger audience by going to inferior material (hits of the day) or ephemeral-sounding instrumentation (electric bass, electric keyboards, Motown back-up singers, etc.). Otherwise, it's not that difficult to agree with (though I choose not to) Peter Richmond who, in his recent biography of Norma Delores Engstrom, tries to make the case that she is the single greatest female interpreter of American popular song. And it really wasn't until the 1950's that she cultivated that breathy, kittenish, exquisitely intimate sound that some of us find all but irresistible. (After 1980 her voice would lose its light and airy quality, sounding limpid and weak but demonstrating all the more the artistry required to "shape" the earlier sound we had become spoiled by.)

Special highlights on "Mink Jazz" are the tracks incorporating Jack Sheldon's inimitable trumpet, which is the instrumental equivalent of Peggy's voice. "Where Can I Go Without You" comes not only as a musical revelation--an underrated, overlooked treasure--but as a perfect vehicle for Jack's trumpet artistry and the complementary pairing of both musicians.

Some sources ("All-Music Guide") are dismissive of "Mink Jazz" and similar Lee sessions for not being more adventurous, extemporaneous, and "creative." Disregard all such misguided attempts to evaluate Lee and the art of American popular song performance. It's true that Lee was an absolute perfectionist, but the result of that insistence on tightness and rightness was some of the freshest, most scintillating performances of American song ever committed to record. And if none of the tracks on this generous program (17 tracks!) runs over three minutes, the "miniaturist" scale of each of these gems is in no way reflective of a lack of creativity or of a lack of depth, thoughtfulness, and feeling on the part of Lee. Go ahead, download just one. I dare you not to order the rest. August 29, 2008

A welcome addition to my mp3 collection!

I am so grateful to Amazon for including this oustanding classic jewel of a record in the mp3 selection. Really, since discovering Peggy Lee a few months ago, I cannot help being continually fascinated by her tone, her great musicality and something that is sorely missed: a sheer good taste when it comes to interpreting songs. As with my other favourite "Sugar 'n Spice" (from a year before, 1962), this one stands out as an all-time classic to me. July 4, 2008

PEGGY LEE AT HER BEST

THIS IS A WONDERFUL CD.I LOVE JAZZ, AND THIS IS THE CREAM OF THE CROP. May 14, 2007

A Beautiful Trance!

Peggy Lee had a hypnotic sense of inner space. She could slow the blues down to a breathless stillness like a shimmering apparition to a dream; I'm A Fool To Want You is unforgettable. Whisper Not and Close Your Eyes are full of milk and honey swing, the trumpet of Jack Sheldon a perfect, delectable double. The overall orchestration is very satisfying with tastefully chosen instruments spotlit on several tracks. Peggy Lee was one of the few female singers who didn't incur the lashings of Billie Holiday's sharp tongue. Billie loved her and recognised Peggy's individual talent as an exception to so many of her imitaters. To emphasise the point, Mink Jazz could be seen as a counter poise to Billie Holiday's Lady In Satan, and even if this was fancifully the case, Peggy's own style shines through, thats why Billie loved her.

September 26, 2006

Mink Jazz ~ Peggy Lee

Peggy Lee has always been my favourite jazz singer, I love her silky, sultry voice. My favourite album of Peggy Lee is her "Latin Ah-La Lee" which really brings out her style and voice quality on the latin songs.

This CD album of the ever popular songs like The Lady is a Tramp, Days of Wine and Roses and many more is really a pleasure to listen to. The band accompaniment is also good and music are well arranged. The album provides a good selection of music for serious or easy listening whether during cocktail or dinner respectively.

As usual the CD quality of recording by Capitol really do justice to the album. March 1, 2006

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