Sings the Songs of George & Ira Gershwin & Cole Porter

was the first jazz singer to record a full album (eight songs in the '78' days) dedicated to the music of one composer; her "songbooks" preceded by more than 15 years. The greatest recordings of her career were these four projects, the first two of which are on this Audiophile reissue. , who had an introverted and quietly straightforward yet sensuous (and somewhat smoldering) style, is heard singing eight songs apiece by the and . Her accompaniment includes all-star groups headed by pianist and trumpeter (which include tenor-saxophonist , clarinetist and on four songs ), a quartet with , and . renditions of such songs as "How Long Has This Been Going On," "I've Got A Crush On You," "Someone To Watch Over Me," "Let's Do It" and "Easy To Love" are both memorable and haunting. This reissue is a gem as is the followup Audiophile release of songs. ~ Scott Yanow