Jazz
December, 1992
When asked what jazz was, Louis Armstrong reportedly said, "Man, if you've got to ask, you'll never know." But for almost as long as people have tried to define jazz, they've argued about what defines a jazz singer. Is swing enough? Is an orchestra too much? And how about scat—or can nuances of tone and phrasing supply enough of the improvisation?Yes, yes, and yes in the case of the captivating Helen Merrill. On Clear Out of This World (Antilles), she once again shows the power of smal...
