Betty Roché should have been much more famous. She had two barely documented periods with
Duke Ellington's orchestra and recorded three excellent albums as a leader from 1956-1961 (all of which are available on CD), but then faded away into complete obscurity. This reissue (which is mistakenly given the incorrect date of January 24, 1961, which was actually
Roché's following release) matches the singer with tenor saxophonist
Jimmy Forrest, organist
Jack McDuff (near the beginning of his career), guitarist
Bill Jennings, bassist
Wendell Marshall, and drummer
Roy Haynes.
Roché performs nine famous standards, coming up with fresh variations in her phrasing to such numbers as "Come Rain or Come Shine," "When I Fall in Love," "Blue Moon," and "Billie's Bounce." Recommended, as are all of the other recordings in her slim discography. ~ Scott Yanow