R.I.P. Carla White

[Ken Dryden]

I was saddened to learn that jazz vocalist Carla White died yesterday in New York City after a long battle with cancer. Carla was a talented singer who recorded eight albums under her name. Her debut recording for Stash, Andruline, was jointly led with Manny Duran; her last release was A Voice in the Night. Her frequent musical collaborators included Peter Madsen, Dean Johnson, Matt Wilson and a good friend, Lew Tabackin, who would often make a guest appearance on a few numbers.

A memorial service is scheduled for St. Peter's Church (Lexington at 53rd St.) in Manhattan on June 8th at 5 pm.

[jazz1]

I was saddened to learn that jazz vocalist Carla White died yesterday in New York City after a long battle with cancer. Carla was a talented singer who recorded eight albums under her name. Her debut recording for Stash, Andruline, was jointly led with Manny Duran; her last release was A Voice in the Night. Her frequent musical collaborators included Peter Madsen, Dean Johnson, Matt Wilson and a good friend, Lew Tabackin, who would often make a guest appearance on a few numbers.

A memorial service is scheduled for St. Peter's Church (Lexington at 53rd St.) in Manhattan on June 8th at 5 pm.

Really sad, I discovered Carla's music with a cd "At Vartan jazz" she was talented, but most of all honest, no pretence singer, one can hear how much she loved what she was doing.

Sad, sad,sad.

[mikeweil]

That's terrible news and explains why I haven't heard of her in a while. I contacted her a few years ago for discographical questions and she was very friendly and concerned and answered all my questions. I have all of her recordings - she was by far my favourite jazz singer and never received the recognition she really deserved. I'm devastated.

R.I.P. Carla - your voice will always ring loud and clear in my days and nights.

Edited May 12, 2007 by mikeweil

[mikeweil]

p.s. check out her website at http://www.carlawhite.com/

[mikeweil]

... and order a copy of her last CD A Voice In The Night from CD Baby as long as they have some: I will select this as Album Of The Week starting May 27! It's an excellent album with some superb Claudio Roditi and a prime rhythm team.

[Ken Dryden]

Carla was a good friend, we met back in 1990 at the JazzTimes Convention in New Orleans and we kept in touch. Our last time to hang out together was during a quick trip to New York City last fall, she was always a delightful person to spend time chatting with over lunch.

I finally tracked down her long out of print debut LP, Andruline, a few years ago and always looked forward to reviewing her latest release.

She will be missed.

[mikeweil]

I wonder who will handle the CD orders coming in now: She handled those coming over Jazz Corner /Jazzcares herself, and CD Baby will have only limited stock. It took her five years each to get the last two out, considering their musical quality it's a shame she had no other choice but found her own label to release the last one. She was so comittted to her music.

[mikeweil]

Just to add that all the links I posted will not work anymore. Her own website hosted by JazzCorner was soon deactivated, and CD Baby no longer has a webshop. You can find her CDs as used copies on discogs, of course. Too bad.