Vivian Lord

[epistrophy007]

Some months ago I orderd on ebay a cd from Anne Marie Moss (that's Mrs Jackie Paris to you!), titled 'Two for the Road'.

I didn't know 'till I received this cd that it's a reissue of two lp's. One by Moss the other one by a totally new singer to me; Vivian Lord. While the set by Moss was a little bit dissapointing (with only 'My Romance' as a memorable if not quite amazing version) the set by Vivian Lord was a revelation to me.

Personal I think there are some similarities wit McRae or Shirley Horn, not only in her way of singin' but she's also a capable pianist herself.

So I googeld a bit to find out that there isn't much information about her on the net.

She probably only made three recordings; the one above mentioned called 'Love Dance', one with Dardanelle and one, in the late '80s, for the Japanese Sony label, exclusively for the Japanese market.

That last one is part from a series of recordings from American singers like Sheila Jordan, Lorez Alexandria, Millie Vernon, Shirley Horn, Carol Sloane (singers who had been on the scene for some time), Carmen Lundy, Bobbe Norris, Susannah McCorkle (a new generation of singers)...

On youtube I found two clips of her, one short homerecording from e few years ago with her grandchildren. So I emailed to the one who posted the clip, I asume it's her daughter, to ask if she could give me some information...without succes...

So here I am (with a very long intro) does someone have information about this singer?

What "fascinates" me about Vivian Lord is that it don't seems that she was like in her twenties when she made these recordings. She has a mature style, so maybe there are some early recordings from her?

Hear here her heartfelt version of

'My Foolish Heart' from her Japanese cd 'Route 66'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3ACqMvxiIU&feature=related

Enjoy!

Thank you

j.

[epistrophy007]

Ok no reactions so I assume that nobody knows her...

Opinions about the youtube track?

j.

[brownie]

She's good on that 'Route 66' album from the CBS/Sony Japan series where she is backed by Kenny Kirkland, Anthony Cox and Ronnie Burrage (plus appearances by Jerry Gonzalez on trumpet). The liner notes are in Japanese (can't read them!).

It's not my preferred album from this unique series (that goes to the Shirley Horn, Suzanna McCorkle and Sheila Jordan LPs). I was lucky to find mint copies of all ten albums at a record convention in Paris a long time ago. Got all ten albums for the price of a single LP!

Morgana King was also featured in one of those albums.

[epistrophy007]

Thank you Brownie for the reply!

Found out that she's also known as Vivian Lord-Alge, she's a voiceteacher (eg of Judy Bady) and is the mother of 'three time Grammy Award winner' record producer and mixer Tommy Lord-Alge. Two of his brothers are also in the musicindustry.

The fact that you have all ten of those records makes me green-eyed jealous...

And how could I forgot that Morgana King is one of those ten singers...

One day I'll have them too, all ten, and hopefully in mint condition...

j.

[Harold_Z]

She's a great singer pianist. I've always assumed she lived around North Jersey. Years ago - when there seemed to be many more jazz gigs than there is now - she frequently was on the scene. Gigging and often sitting in.

[JSngry]

  On 4/13/2010 at 5:55 AM, brownie said:

She's good on that 'Route 66' album from the CBS/Sony Japan series...

It's not my preferred album from this unique series (that goes to the Shirley Horn...

Details, please? Was this ever issued elsewhere?

[brownie]

I understand the whole series was reissued on CD by CBS Japan.

Will try to send details about the whole series later...

[JSngry]

So this was before she was with Verve, right?

[brownie]

Verve Records?!? Not aware she was connected with Verve Records...

The 'Route 66' album was recorded on December 16 and 17, 1986 in New York.

Edited April 17, 2010 by brownie

[JSngry]

Sorry, I was referring to Shirley Horn...did her Sony album come out before she was signed with Verve?

[brownie]

Shirley Horn's album 'All of Me' (with Frank Wess, Charles Ables and Steve Williams) was recorded in September 1986, a few months before she started recording for Verve.

[JSngry]

OOOOOHHHHHH!!! Never heard (or heard of) tha one. I'm a big Shirley Horn fan. Gotta look for this one.

Thanks!