Blue & Boogie: The Empress Of The Torch Blues

Hadda Brooks

Hadda appears on big neon lights as a representative of the magical combination between Swing, Boogie & Blues that shook the 40's. The Queen Of the Boogie was the spark that lighted up the fever for this musical form by getting over all the barriers as a Blues balladeer. It's a genuine art based on romantic and elegant swing lyrics with which she was so successful on the charts, TV and Big Screen. This CD, dedicated to her Modern and Okeh recordings (1945-52), focuses on that delicious ambiguity of hers just before being put into the background behind the Rock & Roll opaque curtain. We should highlight some of her trios with brilliant guitarist Teddy Bunn in a state of subtle complicity, her rare session with Count Basie or Sam "The Man" Taylor / Eddie Barefield's soloist quality. Now, embarked on one of the biggest comebacks ever at the age of 86, she keeps charming a varied and dazzled public through her captivating musical look of yesteryear.


Tracklisting:

1. Swingin' The Boogie (2:52)
2. Blues In B-Flat (2:34)
3. Juke Box Boogie (2:53)
4. You Won't Let Me Go (3:18)
5. That's My Desire (2:46)
6. Trust In Me (3:19)
7. Humoresque Boogie (3:05)
8. Romance In The Dark (3:17)
9. Out Of The Blue (3:05)
10. Variety Bounce (2:31)
11. Honey, Honey, Honey (2:56)
12. Tootsie Timesie (2:21)
13. When A Woman Cries (3:24)
14. Schubert's Serenade In Boogie (2:41)
15. I Feel So Good (2:49)
16. Don't Call It Love (2:45)
17. All Night Long (2:58)
18. I'm Still In Love (3:11)
19. Time Was When (2:20)
20. Remember (3:00)
21. My Song (3:02)
22. Jump Back Honey (2:29)
23. You Let My Love Get Cold (2:35)
24. Dreamin' And Cryin' (2:45)
25. Brooks Boogie (2:50)

Total Time : (72:00)


Tracks #1-9:
Hadda Brooks (p); Jimmy Black (as); Teddy Bunn (g); Elmer "Basie" Day (b); Al "Cake" Wichard (d).
Los Angeles, 1945-1947

#10-12:
Hadda Brooks (p, vcl); Teddy Bunn (g); Red Callender (b); Al Wichard (d).
Los Angeles, 1948

#13-16:
Hadda Brooks (p, vcl) with unknown musicians.
Los Angeles, 1951

#17-20:
Hadda Brooks (p, vcl); Teddy Bunn (g); Unknown (b) & (d).
Los Angeles, January 14, 1952

#21-22:
Hadda Brooks (vcl); Taft Jordan (tp); Ted Kelly (tb); Eddie Barefield (ts); Fred Williams (br); Howard Biggs (p); James Cannady (g); Abie Baker (b); Bill Jones (d).
New York, August 18, 1952

#23-25:
Hadda Brooks (vcl, p on 25); Sam "The Man" Taylor (ts); Kelly Owens (p); James Cannady (g); Graham Moncur (b); Marty Wilson (d); Leroy Lirkland (arranger).
New York, December 12, 1952