Lena Horne & Harry Belafonte - Porgy and Bess (1959)

The first of Harry Belafonte's duet albums with female performers, this one paired two American singers at the peak of their respective talents. As with Belafonte's later albums, the selections consist of individual performances as well as duets. The subject matter is songs from George Gershwin's operetta Porgy & Bess, capitalizing on the popularity of the Columbia film released that year, starring Belafonte's best friend Sidney Poitier and his Carmen Jones co-star Dorothy Dandridge. Belafonte and Horne only sing two songs together: "There's a Boat That's Leavin' Soon for New York" and "Bess, You Is My Woman." The remaining selections feature Belafonte accompanied by Bob Corman's Orchestra or Horne singing with husband Lennie Hayton's Orchestra. Horne is well-suited to Gershwin's songs, but Belafonte doesn't seem to get his teeth into the role.

Review by Cary Ginell