I have read a lot about Washington's supposed versatility and trough the years heard a lot of her music recorded in different surroundings - from those early r&b novelties to Quincy Jones albums to her tributes to Bessie Smith and Fats Waller, pop crossover and beyond - but honestly, I have never imagined her to be so truly capable to fit absolutely anywhere like in this off the wall live recording with her friends Jazz cats. According to Nadine Cohodas book "Queen: The Life And Music Of Dinah Washington" session was arranged basically without any rehearsals or preparations and guys invited were all her buddies, audience being her hairdresser,manicurist and so on - in short, there is a lot of serious Jazz playing, improvisations and solo spots capped with Washington's fierce vocal that usually started and ended the songs but she graciously gave spotlight to musicians. I mean, there is a instrumental ("Summertime") on Dinah Washington album! And voice, what a voice - sizzling, seductive, gritty, gentle and soulful, call it whatever you want ("authoritative" is perhaps the best description) it makes me fall in love with her again after all these years, I almost forgot how good she was. The fact that she fitted so perfectly in what is basically true jam session with the best musicians around is mind-boggling and points again that Washington could and did sing "anything at all" (her own words) - musicians are so strong that at the moments listener almost forgets this is vocal album - than Dinah comes along and just continues with a voice what guys have started. Unusual in her recorded legacy, this is strictly non commercial and brilliant one-off experiment worth hearing specially if you know her only from her later pop crossover period - this is Dinah Washington in Jazz land.
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