Sid Gribetz presents Carmen McRae in a five hour special radio broadcast this Sunday June 25, 2023 from 2-7 PM on “Jazz Profiles”, WKCR-FM in New York City.
Carmen McRae should be high on the list in the discussion of the all time great jazz vocalists. She sang with special concern for the lyrics and performed with pronounced clarity and vision, enhancing the meanings of the songs. Additionally, McRae had a husky, soulful timbre, another factor that intensified her emotional connections with the listener. She was an excellent pianist as well, and her musicality informed her artistic grace and command.
Carmen McRae was born in a middle class Jamaican immigrant African American family in Harlem on April 8, 1920, and she was raised in Brooklyn. Her family had high expectations and provided classical piano lessons (although Carmen remembers hiding sheet music of popular songs amongst the scores in her piano bench).
Carmen’s first influence was Billie Holiday. After performing as a teenager in an amateur show at the Apollo Theater, Carmen met composer Irene Kitchings, who was married to Teddy Wilson. Kitchings introduced Carmen to Billie and encouraged Carmen to write songs. Carmen wrote “Dream Of Life”, which was recorded by Holiday.
Respecting her parents wishes at first, Carmen became an office worker doing clerical jobs, but she began performing in night clubs in the evening. Eventually her musical career led her to the band of Duke Ellington’s son Mercer in the late 1940's. After leaving Ellington, McRae settled in Chicago, where a 17 week engagement became 3 and ½ years as an active pianist and singer in the Chicago jazz world, experience which honed her craft.
McRae returned to New York in the 1950's and continued her growth working regularly at Minton’s. Her career flowered with a contract with major label Decca and a series of enduring recordings of great American songs with leading jazz artists. With Columbia Records in 1961 she made a mark with her tribute album to Billie Holiday.
Later in the 1960's McRae moved to Southern California and also began gracing her performances with interpretations of contemporary pop songs. As her career moved on Carmen became a popular and prolific attraction singing around the world. In the 1980's she made well received albums for the Concord label. Carmen capped her career with her tour de force presentation of lyrical interpretations of Thelonious Monk tunes (who else could have done this?).
McRae suffered from respiratory disease in 1991 after which she curtailed her performing. In 1994 she was awarded the prestigious National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master Award. Sadly, she passed away on November 10, 1994 at the age of 74.
We’ll sample and explore all of her various recordings during the program.
