Fine and Mellow: Live at Birdland West explained

Fine and Mellow: Live at Birdland West
Type:	live
Artist:	Carmen McRae
Cover:	Fine and Mellow Live at Birdland West.png
Released:	1988
Recorded:	December 1987
Venue:	Birdland West, Long Beach, California
Genre:	Vocal jazz
Length:	56:27
Label:	Concord
Producer:	Carl Jefferson
Chronology:	Carmen McRae
Prev Title:	The Carmen McRae – Betty Carter Duets
Prev Year:	1987
Next Title:	Carmen Sings Monk
Next Year:	1988

Fine and Mellow: Live at Birdland West is a 1988 live album by Carmen McRae.^[1]

McRae was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female at the 31st Annual Grammy Awards for her performance on this album.^[2]

Reception

The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow says that "Although Carmen McRae is the obvious star of her live record...she gives plenty of solo space to her notable all-star band". Yanow wrote of the songs that "McRae updates them a bit and makes them sound relevant and swinging. Recommended".^[1]

Track listing

1. "What Is This Thing Called Love?" (Cole Porter) – 6:46
2. "What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry?" (Walter Donaldson, Abe Lyman) – 5:07
3. "Fine and Mellow" (Billie Holiday) – 9:31
4. "These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)" (Jack Strachey, Harry Link, Holt Marvell) – 5:20
5. "Black and Blue" (Harry Brooks, Andy Razaf, Fats Waller) – 7:37
6. "One More Chance" (Carolyn A. Gillman) – 4:06
7. "Until the Real Thing Comes Along" (Mann Holiner, Alberta Nichols, Sammy Cahn, Saul Chaplin, L.E. Freeman) – 5:00
8. "My Handy Man Ain't Handy No More" (Eubie Blake, Razaf) – 6:44

Personnel

• Carmen McRae - vocals
• Red Holloway - alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
• Jack McDuff - electric organ
• Phil Upchurch - guitar
• John Clayton - double bass
• Paul Humphrey - drums

Notes and References

1. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=fine-and-mellow-live-at-birdland-west-r162929|pure_url=yes}} Fine and Mellow: Live at Birdland West]. Allmusic. July 20, 2011.
2. http://theenvelope.latimes.com/factsheets/awardsdb/env-awards-db-search,0,7169155.htmlstory?searchtype=all&query=Carmen+McRae&x=12&y=12 Grammy Award Database