Two of jazz's biggest labels — the Verve Music Group and Blue Note Records — have joined forces to release The Definitive Series, and “The Best Of Dinah Washington” is one of them. Without a doubt one of the great female singers of the 1940s and ’50s, Dinah had fans on the blues circuit early in her career and later caught fire with the R&B and jazz crowds. With her alluring, high-pitched voice, she was a hitmaker at ease in crossing over from R&B to pop music. Music writer Robert Puter comments: “What allowed Washington to appeal to such disparate audiences, and in truth gave her many careers, was her musical ability. She was a distinctive stylist and a strong vocal identity — a tart timbre that could sound sassy and bittersweet, and sometimes poignant. She transformed every kind of song that she touched — pop standards, blues, and jazz — and made them identifiably hers.” For those who want to experience some of the very best songs the great Dinah Washington recorded, this is the CD to choose. It also comes with some very good photos.

There will never be another Dinah. Her quirky, metallic, jazzy soprano has never been duplicated, much less surpassed. In “I Want To Be Loved,” she cuts loose with a jazz coloratura that is jaw dropping. She teams up with Brook Benton for two songs and their obvious fun is sprinkled with some minor goofs that make them all the more endearing. This was before the era of take after take to arrive at an anemic, albeit flawless production. This lady laid it down in one take and let the missteps be.

When she takes on a grittier song such as “This Bitter Earth,” she masters the wan hope of the sad and weary. Notice the slight pause after she sings the word “This...” My oh my. We’re sure it's mirrored some bad moments in almost anyone's life. We need to rejoice. We need to laugh...but we need to mourn as well. This CD has it all. We also love Ms. Washington's version of “September In the Rain.” It's thoughtful and very beautiful.

Born Ruth Lee Jones in 1924, Dinah has been cited as “the most popular black femael recording artist in the 1950s.” She grew up in Chicago, where she became deeply involved in gospel and played piano for hte choir in St. Luke's Baptish Church while still in elementary school. She directed her church choir in her teens. She later won an amateur talent contest at Chicago’s Regal Theater, where she sang “I Can’t Face the Music” at age 15. By 1941-42 she was performing in the Downbeat Room of the Sherman Hotel (with Fats Waller). She was playing at the Three Deuces, a jazz club, when a friend took her to hear Billie Holiday at the Garrick Stage Bar. The owner was so impressed with Dinah he hired her to sing upstairs while Holiday appeared in the downstairs room.

Ms. Washington made her recording debut for the Keynote label in December of ’42, singing with Lionel Hampton’s band. Her first two songs made Billboard. After Keynote folded, she got a recording contract with Mercury Records. Her first release on that label, a version of Fats Waller's “Ain't Misbehavin,” was another hit, starting a long string of success. Between 1948 and ’55, she had 27 R&B top ten hits. In 1959, she had her first top ten pop song with a version of “What A Difference A Day Makes.” She followed it up with a rendition of Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable,” both of which are included in this CD. Two big hits with Brook Benton followed. Her last big smash was “September In the Rain” in 1961.

Washington was married seven times and was an unapologetic liberal Democrat. She once said “I am who I am and I know what I know. I'm a Democrat plain and simple, always have been. I'd never vote for a Republican because in my opinion they don't have what it takes to run any kind of private or public office. That's all.”

To sample some of the tracks, click the speaker icon below to hear them. Then scroll down the page to order today!