Born Jelena Ana Milčetić, Helen Merrill was the daughter of Croatian immigrants to the U.S. and became a vocalist (never a “girl singer”) of exquisite sensibilities and intense emotion. Inspired more by instrumentalists than by singers, Merrill was known for flawless phrasing, a luxurious sense of time, and killer high notes. Her 1954 recording debut was produced and arranged by 21-year-old Quincy Jones and featured trumpeter Clifford Brown at his best. Although she devoted one album to The Beatles, Merrill's music always seemed to suggest that jazz was closer to fine art than to pop.