Renee Raff, 'Among the Stars

[epistrophy007]

Renee Raff is an South African singer who made just one album in the early sixties. Though she only sings on this lp she seems to be a pianist herself, according to the linernotes she studied at Julliard with John Mehegan.

The program of the record varies from standards ('Willow Weep for Me', 'Little Girl Blue'), a folksong ('Jan Pierewiet'), and offbeat material('Butterfly with Hiccups', 'He Lied', 'In the Interim').

One of the songs is credited to Gerry Mulligan but I don't know which one it is.

The arrangements are by Billy Byers. Four musicians get credit; Jerome Richardson, Hank Jones, Milt Hinton, Osie Johnson. On some tracks there's also a noncredited guitarist. The arrangements are in a typical sixties groove and on some tracks the 'always ever so tasty Mr. Jones' sounds more like a Bobby Timmons or Ray Bryant to me...Don't think I ever heard him play like this, but I have to admit that I'm unfamiliar with his work from the sixties.

Though no worldshocking things happen here, it's a nice forgotten record...

(front cover) http://www.customphotousa.com/podsville/images/hires_covers/RAFF1.JPG'>http://www.customphotousa.com/podsville/images/hires_covers/RAFF1.JPG

(back cover) http://www.customphotousa.com/podsville/images/hires_covers/RAFF2.JPG'>http://www.customphotousa.com/podsville/images/hires_covers/RAFF2.JPG

Hear here in the middle of the page http://www.customphotousa.com/podsville/

Enjoy!

j.