A well-documented blues and vaudevillian singer in the 1920s,
Lizzie Miles
was off records after 1930 for over 20 years, except for eight selections cut on one day in 1939. This CD has her later "comeback" session, four songs cut for
Rudi Blesh
's
Circle
label in 1952. In addition,
Miles
is heard on an alternate take of
"Basin Street Blues"
from that day, nine previously unreleased performances from a month earlier, two unheard selections from the mid-1950s, and a pair of tunes (previously put out by the
Dawn Club
label) that find her performing live with the
George Lewis
band. In most cases,
is backed by a trio comprised of either
Fred Neumann
or
Lester Santiago
on piano,
Frank Federico
Ernest McLean
on guitar, and
Joe Locacano
Richard McLean
on bass. Her delivery of the standards (which include
"Careless Love,"
"Ace in the Hole,"
"Some of These Days,"
"Someday Sweetheart"
and
"St. Louis Blues"
) is relaxed, swinging and full of joy;
comes across much more like a vintage jazz singer than a classic blues vocalist. The recording quality is generally quite good on these rarities. The mid-1950s numbers have her joined by a New Orleans sextet that includes cornetist
Johnny Wiggs
and clarinetist
Raymond Burke
, while the
group is supportive on the final two numbers. A perfect introduction to the infectious singing of
. ~ Scott Yanow