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| Annie Ross... |
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Annie Ross is a jazz singer and actress. She was born Annabelle Short Lynch in Mitcham, Surrey, in 1930, to Scottish parents who together formed a music hall act. She moved to the USA with her aunt, the singer Ella Logan, at the age of only four and worked as a child actress in Hollywood. At the age of seventeen, she returned to London to sing in a club and was quickly established as a vocalist noted for her style and depth. She went to Paris, and remained for a while cutting her first record, "Le Vent Vert" with James Moody. It was during these years that Annie developed her inimitable, unique style. She travelled to North Africa with Coleman Hawkins, Kenny Clarke and James Moody. It was also during this time that Charlie Parker became Godfather to Annie’s son by Kenny Clarke, Kenny, Jr. In 1952, Annie was asked to record in New York for a record company called DG, which was part owned by Dizzy Gillespie. Accompanied by Kenny Clarke, Milt Jackson, Percy Heath and Blossom Dearie, Annie recorded four titles. Critics and aficionados alike were unstinting in their praise of her artistry. She composed the lyrics to "Twisted," a jazz blues composition by Wardell Gray which won her the Downbeat "New Star" award. While appearing in a club called the Band Box, where she was accompanied by George Wallington, Tommy Potter, Ernie Henry and Max Roach, Lionel Hampton came in from the club next door, Birdland, and asked her if she could leave the next day for a tour of Europe with his band, which included Clifford Brown, Quincy Jones and Art Farmer. During this time she wrote the lyrics to Art Farmer’s "Farmer Market" and Hampton Hawks’ "Jackie." She then signed with legendary agent Joe Glaser. The day after signing with him she found herself replacing Billy Holiday at the Apollo Theatre. Billy Holiday attended Annie’s performances at the Apollo where Duke Ellington introduced the two singers to one another. From that moment on they became lifelong friends. |
 In the mid 1950s she was back in the UK and sang with the bands of Jack Parnell and Tony Crombie. She then became part of the renowned Lambert, Hendricks and Ross vocal trio which experienced considerable success. She left the trio in 1962 and freelanced in the UK until 1966 appearing on TV, in clubs and with bands of all types. In this period she opened and ran a popular jazz club, called Annie's Room, in Covent Garden in London. She also appeared at Ronnie Scott's and played European festivals. From the 1970s she moved into acting working on the stage in plays and musicals and returned to the USA for a film career. She is a consumate singer able to handle anything from torch songs, and medium paced swing to breakneck tempos and intricate melodic lines. Annie Ross made only a handful of records with British jazz musicians and until recently none had been available on CD, until Jasmine Records issued the CD Twisted in May, 2008. This includes one of Annie's most sought after LPs Annie by candlelight in full. This CD also includes her earliest records made in New York in 1952. |
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Annie Ross had two recording dates in New York during 1952. Four titles were recorded on April 1st with the Modern Jazzz Quartet minus John Lewis who was replaced on the piano by Blossom Dearie. Then on October 9th she recorded another four titles, one of which was the award winning Twisted. These eight titles are included on the Jasmine CD - Twisted... On September 14th, 1953 she recorded two titles, in Stockholm, with a seven piece band directed by Gigi Gryce which were released in the UK on an Esquire 78rpm record (10-344)... Annie Ross with The Tony Kinsey Trio - March 12th, 1954 (Esquire 10-354) Annie Ross (vcl) acc. by Dill Jones (p), Sammy Stokes (b), Tony Kinsey (d). The Beginning Of The End/Annie's Blue Gown. Jack Parnell and his Orchestra - cJuly, 1954 (Parlophone) Ronnie Simmonds, Jo Hunter, Terry Lewis, Hank Shaw (tp), Bobby Lamb, Jimmy Tobbett, Mac Minshull (tb), Jimmy Phillips (as), Tubby Hayes, Ronnie Keene (ts), Don Honeywell (bs), Max Harris (p), Kenny Napper (b), Phil Seamen (d), Annie Ross, Dennis Hale (vocal). Annie's Blues (voc AR)/The Bandit (voc DH). One title was recorded in Los Angeles on August 13th, 1954 with a sextet that included Zoot Sims and Shelly Manne... Tony Crombie And His Orchestra - March 31st, 1955 (Decca) Jimmy Deuchar, Les Condon (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Derek Humble (as), Don Rendell, Al Cornish (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Damian Robinson (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (d), Annie Ross (vcl). Baby Mine (AR vcl)/The Fish (AR vcl)*/Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean (AR vcl)*^ (*Jasmine CD - Annie Ross - Twisted) (^Ember CD - Annie Ross sings a handful of songs) September 9th, 1955 (Decca) Personnel as March 31st. I Want You To Be My Baby (AR vcl)*/Three Little Words (AR vcl). (*Jasmine CD - Annie Ross - Twisted) September, 1955 (Decca) Personnel as March 31st. Only You (AR vcl)*/Cry Me A River (AR vcl)*. (*Jasmine CD - Annie Ross - Twisted) In late 1955 Tony Crombie led his Orchestra, including vocalist Annie Ross on a ground breaking trip to Israel. The band and Annie Ross received a rapturous welcome with sell out concerts at all venues. A number of broadcasts were made on Israel Radio and several of the titles have been issued on an Ember CD. The CD is a bit of a mystery and contains no details at all. For the two vocals, aural evidence suggests that Annie Ross is accompanied by Tony Crombie on piano and Lennie Bush on bass, with a muted trumpet solo on "Don't Worry About Me". Tony Crombie And His Orchestra - c1955/1956 (Israel Radio broadcast) Probable personnel: Jimmy Deuchar, Les Condon (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Derek Humble (as), Don Rendell, Al Cornish (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Damian Robinson (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (p,d), Annie Ross (vcl). C'est Si Bon (AR vcl)*/Don't Worry About Me (AR vcl)*/I Can't Believe (AR vcl)*. (*Ember CD - Tony Crombie - A Tribute) (*Ember CD - Annie Ross sings a handful of songs) Annie Ross acc by Tony Crombie Quartet - August 27th, 1956 (Annie by candlelight - Nixa NJT504) Annie Ross (vcl), Bob Burns (cl), Tony Crombie (p), Roy Plummer (g), Lennie Bush (b). Gipsy In My Soul*/I Love Paris*/I Didn't Know About You*/The Lady's In Love With You*/'Taint What You Do*/Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying*/Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea*/Don't Worry 'Bout Me*. (*Jasmine CD - Annie Ross - Twisted) (*Jazz Track CD - Annie Ross sings a song with Mulligan) Annie Ross acc by Tony Crombie Quartet - August 28th, 1956 (Nocturne for vocalist - Nixa NJE1035) Personnel as August 27th. I've Told Every Little Star*/Manhattan*/Please Don't Talk About Me when I'm Gone*/Skylark*#. (*Jasmine CD - Annie Ross - Twisted) (#Jazz Track CD - Annie Ross sings a song with Mulligan) In 1957 Annie recorded with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet in New York, moving down to Los Angeles in 1958 to record with Mulligan again. While in Los Angeles in 1959 she recorded an album with Buddy Bregman and his Orchestra, made up of top quality jazz musicians and another album with west coast jazzmen including Zoot Sims, Bill Perkins and Jim Hall... Annie Ross with The Tony Kinsey Quintet - November/December, 1962 (Transatlantic) Annie Ross (vcl) acc. by Les Condon (tp), Peter King (ts), Gordon Beck (p), Brian Brocklehurst (b), Tony Kinsey (d). (Other musicians were added on various tracks). Bellini/The Ballad Of The Water And the Flame/The Ass' Song/The Liberal Man/Johnny/Sick Man/Things/He/Go to the Wall/The Ballad Of The Ape And The Judge/The General/Western Ladies. Annie Ross accompanied by the Johnny Spence Orchestra - June 26th and 28th, July 1st, 1963 (Annie Ross sings a handful of songs - Ember NR5008*) Annie Ross (vcl) acc. by an orchestra directed by Johnny Spence, (no other details). Bye Bye Blues/A Lot Of Livin' to Do*/Let Me Love You*/All the Things You Are*/I'm Gonna Go Fishin'*/Like Someone In Love*/Limehouse Blues*^/A Handful Of Songs*/All Of You*/Fly Me To The Moon*/Nature Boy*/What's New?*^/Love For Sale*. (*Ember CD - Annie Ross sings a handful of songs) (^Fantastic Voyage 2 CD set - Ember Jazz - The Flamingo Connection) |
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