Portrait of Carmen explained

Portrait of Carmen
Type:	studio
Artist:	Carmen McRae
Cover:	carmport.jpg
Released:	1968
Recorded:	November 27–29, 1967
Studio:	United Recording Studio, Los Angeles
Genre:	Vocal jazz
Length:	34:24
Label:	Atlantic SD 8165
Producer:	Nesuhi Ertegun^[1]
Chronology:	Carmen McRae
Prev Title:	For Once in My Life
Prev Year:	1967
Next Title:	The Sound of Silence
Next Year:	1968

Portrait of Carmen is a 1968 studio album by Carmen McRae, with arrangements by Oliver Nelson, Shorty Rogers, Benny Carter and Gene Di Novi.^[2]

Reception

The Allmusic review by Jason Ankeny awarded the album four stars and said that "Portrait of Carmen doesn't so much update the great Carmen McRae's sound and sensibility as it reflects a world that's finally caught up to her way of thinking, capitalizing on the irony and sophistication so long essential to her music to create a record that is both fiercely individual and universally accessible. The title's no afterthought...Portrait of Carmen captures her brilliance for posterity".^[2]

Track listing

1. "I'm Always Drunk in San Francisco" (Tommy Wolf) - 3:04
2. "Elusive Butterfly" (Bob Lind) - 3:03
3. "Day by Day" (Sammy Cahn, Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston) - 2:28
4. "When You Get Around Me" (Fred E. Ahlert) - 2:57
5. "Walking Happy" (Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen) - 2:40
6. "My Very Own Person" (Gene Di Novi) - 2:59
7. "Ask Any Woman" (Gerald Langley, J. Stewart) - 3:01
8. "Boy, Do I Have a Surprise for You" (Novi) - 3:26
9. "Loads of Love" (Richard Rodgers) - 3:58
10. "I Haven't Got Anything Better to Do" (Lee Pockriss, Paul Vance) - 4:34
11. "Wonder Why" (Nicholas Brodszky, Cahn) - 2:14

Personnel

• Carmen McRae - vocals
• Oliver Nelson - arranger: 3, 5, 9, 11
• Shorty Rogers - arranger: 2, 4, 7
• Benny Carter - arranger: 1, 10
• Gene Di Novi - arranger: 6, 8
• Gene Cipriano - saxophone, flute
• Harry Klee - flute
• Lew McCreary - trombone
• George Roberts
• Louis Blackburn
• Billy Byers
• Frank Rosolino
• Ernie Tack
• Francis Howard
• Dick Nash
• David Duke - French horn
• William Hinshaw
• Harry Sigismonti
• Dennis Budimir - guitar
• Howard Roberts
• Tommy Tedesco
• John Collins
• Dominick Fera - saxophone
• Justin Gordon
• John Lowe
• Theodore Nash
• Buddy Collette
• Bill Green
• Anthony Ortega
• Frank Strozier
• John Audino - trumpet
• James Salko
• Jimmy Zito
• Bobby Bryant
• Conte Candoli
• Freddie Hill
• Al Porcino
• Richard Perissi - French horn
• Harry Sigismonti
• Ann Mason - harp
• Ray Brown - double bass
• Norman Simmons - piano
• Earl Palmer - drums
• Jack Perling
• Shelly Manne
• Victor Feldman - percussion
• Lou Singer
• Dale Anderson

Notes and References

1. Web site: Carmen McRae – Portrait of Carmen (1968) | Sounds of the Universe.
2. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=portrait-of-carmen-r207527|pure_url=yes}} Portrait of Carmen]. Allmusic. July 20, 2011.