Helen Merrill

Jazz singer Helen Merrill recorded with such notable figures as Clifford Brown and Gil Evans in the mid-50s, but eventually relocated to Italy, becoming a familiar figure at European festivals. In the early-60s, she returned to America but had difficulty in attracting major label interest, although she made a handful of superior albums, including 1968's A SHADE OF DIFFERENCE, backed by leading musicians such as Thad Jones, Elvin Jones, and Jim Hall. By the late-60s, Merrill was living in Japan, where her talents were much appreciated. Returning home in the mid-70s, she continued to record excellent albums, notably JUST FRIENDS (1989) for Emarcy and 1996’s superb THE NIGHT AND MUSIC for Verve.