Jeri Southern - Four Classic Albums (The Southern Style / a Prelude to a Kiss / Southern Breeze / Coffee, Cigarettes & Memories) (Digitally Remastered) (2018)

Jeri Southern started her musical career as a pianist having been classically trained from an early age. During her musical training she had become interested in jazz and during the 1940’s duly took off to begin her musical life playing the clubs. It was in these clubs that she began singing and was eventually signed to Decca in 1951. During the 1950’s Jeri made a string of outstanding albums of which we have chosen what we consider to be four of her best. Her singing style was quintessentially what became known as the “torch” style of jazz singing, world weary and somewhat downbeat, it was perhaps overlooked by some listeners because of it. However we think she was fabulous, as did many of the great names in jazz who had the privilege of accompanying her. That list would include the following…Marty Paich, Herb Geller, Georgie Auld, Don Fagerquist, Bud Clark and Mel Lewis.