Classy

Dinah Washington is truly a Singer's Singer.She understood the power of Lyrics&the Importance of allowing the feeling&emotions come through.She is a Great Stylish Artist who had no limits.Her take on "I've got you under my skin" alone is worth the full Price to Me overall.She knew how to Swing&Connect with Her Music.

Somebody Do A Movie On This Woman...

...maybe it will wake my generation up to respect this woman. Her music and life is truly a discovery of wonder, love, comedy, and heartaches. If you thought Whitney's life is a mess, you need to research Dinah's. At least Dinah had fun, right? The one thing I can say about Dinah is that all her trials, happiness and misfortunate she always put them into her songs. This woman was not shy about being real when it came to her music and it didn't matter whether it was pop, jazz, blues or r&b. And unlike Whitney and today's singers, she was a TRUE professional singer. She never allowed her personal problems to affect her music. I wish somebody will do a movie about her life and get Jill Scott to play her. Until then, I will continue to listen to this woman's amazing music and dreaming of the day that she gets some respect. If you are new to Dinah, this is the collection you need to start with.

The Title Is Accurate: This Really Is An Essential!

Reknowned for a straight-forward, powerhouse voice and a knock-out stage presence, Dinah Washington is one of the great vocalists of the 20th Century--but is today little known outside the circle of serious jazz fans. This is a great pity, for the lady was a remarkable talent, as this Verve release makes abundantly clear.

Washington had a rather limited range, but like Billie Holiday she carefully sculpted her voice to maximum effect--and her instrument is a knock-you-flat one, with many of her vocals relying on her ability to strike and hold a high, intensely voiced tone. But if Washington's vocal range was limited, her material was not: she is as at home with hard jazz and blues as she is with sleek orchestral arrangements and throw-away numbers, and this collection presents examples of it all: from the funky jazz of "I've Got You Under My Skin," in which she offers a completely unexpected interpretation of the Cole Porter classic, to the more orchestrial scored "Blue Gardenia," a personal favorite, these cuts are winners all the way.

If you've heard about Dinah Washington but never actually encountered her music, this compilation is a perfect place to start. But be forewarned: the lady's music is addictive, and once you begin to explore it you're likely to leap feet first into every available recording. For once, the title THE ESSENTIALS is dead-on accurate; strongly recommended.