Della Reese: Four Classic Album

AVID Jazz continues with its Four Classic Album series with a re-mastered 2CD release from Della Reese, complete with original artwork, liner notes and personnel details ‘The Story of the Blues’; ‘The Classic Della’; ‘Della By Starlight’ and ‘What Do You Know About Love’ Born in 1931, Delloreese Patricia Early, began singing gospel music at an early age and was hired to sing in Mahalia Jackson’s gospel group at age, only 11! Changing her name to Della Reese she began performing in nightclubs and fell under the influence of the great female jazz singers of the age, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday. Her singing career was defined by two long spells with major record companies, in 1953 she signed to Jubilee and later in 1959 to RCA. Our four fine selections show off the best of Della from both these periods. From Jubilee we have the wonderfully sultry, ‘What Do You Know About Love’ and the themed concept album ‘The Story of the Blues’ in which Della provides the introduction to each song. From RCA we present the sublimely lush albums ‘Della By Starlight’ and ‘The Classic Della’. A fitting tribute to a great lady of music who passed away only last year (2017) at the age of 86.