When opera meets jazz

[GoogaMooga]

At 50 pence in thrift, I am willing to take chances, and most often it pays off. So I bought a CD of the great diva, Barbara Hendricks, singing the Duke Ellington songbook. Accompanied by the Monty Alexander Trio. Live at Montreux. What could possibly go wrong? World class names, all. Well, it doesn't work, which is perhaps why we haven't seen more of such things. It really is quite a dreadful recording, doesn't swing at all. Ms. Hendricks is good for something like "Ave Maria", but not "Don't Get Around Much Anymore". Three songs in, and I reach for the stop button. Off to Accord it goes.

[Spock!]

At 50 pence in thrift, I am willing to take chances, and most often it pays off. So I bought a CD of the great diva, Barbara Hendricks, singing the Duke Ellington songbook. Accompanied by the Monty Alexander Trio. Live at Montreux. What could possibly go wrong? World class names, all. Well, it doesn't work, which is perhaps why we haven't seen more of such things. It really is quite a dreadful recording, doesn't swing at all. Ms. Hendricks is good for something like "Ave Maria", but not "Don't Get Around Much Anymore". Three songs in, and I reach for the stop button. Off to Accord it goes.

Can't say I'm surprised. Have avoided such offerings as Kiri te Kanawa's Blue Skies & Sidetracks fearing just such a mismatch.

[Muskrat]

I've heard worse.