Anita O'Day's Finest Hour

Anita O’Day was one of the most diverse and adventurous vocalists on Verve, recording albums in Latin, big band and soul-jazz styles, and collaborating with stylists like vibraphonist Cal Tjader and orchestral arranger Gary McFarland. “Given her dedication to the twin gods of improvisation and swing,” wrote Will Friedwald, “she may be the most firmly committed of all jazz vocalists.” Anita O’Day’s Finest Hour doesn’t come close to compiling all of the singer’s compelling performances for Verve, but it does a fine job of highlighting her essential qualities. Her unsurpassed agility and ease at high speed is highlighted by “Them There Eyes” and “What Is This Thing Called Love?” and her whipping sense of swing is showcased on “Let Me Off Uptown” and “Boogie Blues.” However the deeper, more essential quality is the depth of Anita’s experience. She was an expert technician, but we feel her singing because she sings as someone who’s been through more than can be contained in one song. It’s the “lived it” quality that ties together virtuosic displays like “The Way You Look Tonight” and the naked blues of “Anita’s Blues,” and makes each equal to the other.