Toni Harper - Night Mood (1960)
Toni Harper - Night Mood (1960)
A1 In The Still Of The Night 2:38 A2 Paradise 2:50 A3 'Round Midnight 3:35 A4 The Meaning Of The Blues 3:11 A5 Saturday Night (Is The Loneliest Night In The Week) 2:56 A6 Night After Night 3:03 B1 Just Go 2:45 B2 A Sleepin' Bee 2:39 B3 My Ship 3:17 B4 You And The Night And The Music 2:06 B5 Petals On The Pond 2:52 B6 Where Flamingos Fly 3:13 Toni Harper - vocals Bud Shank - Sax Art Pepper - Sax Jimmy Rowles - Piano Mel Lewis - Drums Marty Paich and his Orchestra Marty Paich - arranger, conductor
Toni Harper's final RCA session pairs the singer with arranger Marty Paich to create the richly atmospheric after-hours album that she was born to make. By alternating between pop standards and jazz originals, Night Mood underscores the complete breadth of Harper's talents. Even better than her sophisticated and poignant interpretations of chestnuts like "Round Midnight" and "My Ship" is a swinging rendition of "Saturday Night Is the Loneliest Night of the Week" that deserves serious consideration as the song's definitive treatment. Paich's soulful arrangements further enhance the dusky beauty of Harper's vocals, even making room for some lovely alto saxophone solos courtesy of the great Art Pepper. ---Jason Ankeny, AllMusic Review
Toni Harper studied dance under the tutelage of the great Maceo Anderson. In 1945, she auditioned with hundreds of others kids for a part in dancer/choreographer, Nick Castle's production of Christmas Follies. Toni won a part in the stage show, but it wasn't her dancing that won her a part--it was her singing.
Toni Harper received enthusiastic reviews for her role in Christmas Follies and she soon became one of America's biggest "little" superstars. She performed onstage with entertainers like Cab Calloway and Herb Jeffries, and even recorded a few songs, including her platinum-selling hit, "Candy Store Blues".
Toni Harper also made several big and small screen appearances throughout her adolescent years, and as an adult, she recorded three albums: Toni (1956), Lady Lonely (1959), and Night Mood (1960). However, after being in the music industry for over twenty years, Toni Harper (now Toni Dunlap) retired in 1966 at the age of 29. ---pocinclassicfilm.blogspot.com
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