Beverly Kenney: Complete Royal Roost Recordings | CD, Fresh Sound

The appearance of Beverly Kenney as a guest vocalist at the 1955 Jazz for Israel concert at Carnegie Hall was the beginning of her successful but tragically short career - she took her own life at 28. Her arrival was, for most pop buyers and jazz fans, a major event. Considered one of the most intriguing new voices to come since Julie London's auspicious record debut, she exuded warmth and a sense of humour, taste and tenderness, while her innate jazz pulse won her glowing tributes from jazz critics.

With her lightly husky, attractive voice she gave an impeccably contemporary reading to the standards on her three Royal Roost albums, accompanied by Johnny Smith's group, Ralph Burns' orchestra and by the fine support of Jimmy Jones and the Basie-ites.

This set is completed by several intriguing bonus tracks she recorded early in her career, including a demo session with pianist and vocal coach Tony Tamburello recorded just before her major breakthrough, and tracks from a broadcast she did with the trio of Gildo Mahones. In an arresting demonstration of her quality, the set displays not only all her skills as a singer, but also her outstanding musicianship and care for lyrics.