Blossom

"It's so refreshing and different from the big belters", Blossom Dearie once said about Astrud Gilberto. A remark that could easily be about herself too: her very romantic, girlish voice is what they call 'an acquired taste' - on this blog, that is a big plus. Blossom (East Durham, 1928) is said to have been given her unusual first name after a neighbour brought peach blossoms to her house on the day she was born. She took piano lessons at an early age, was influenced by jazz-singers and -pianists and in her mid-twenties moved to New York to pursue a musical career. In 1952 she met Nicole Barclay, her husband Eddie owned Barclay Records, who suggested her to go to Paris. There she met Norman Granz, who signed her to Verve Records. My Gentleman Friend (with Kenny Burrell on guitar and Ray Brown on bass) is considered to be her best Verve-album. In Paris, she also fell for the language and recorded a few French songs. Her pronounciation isn't fluent, but if you like the way Claudine Longet sings in English, you must like Blossoms chansons. The original supper club singer still performs, as her website shows.

Blossom Dearie - Plus Je T'Embrasse
Blossom Dearie - Boum
Blossom Dearie - Tout Doucement