Carmen McRae - Get Set For Miss Jazz: 1953-57 (2026)

Carmen McRae was an American singer and jazz pianist whose name stands alongside Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan. She was known for her behind-the-beat phrasing, ironic approach to lyrics, and rare gift for storytelling through song; musicians held her in particularly high regard. Her low, slightly smoky contralto and worldly delivery let her dissect every line with dramatic precision. Over five decades she earned lasting critical acclaim and several Grammy nominations.

A 16-track vinyl compilation captures the decisive stage of her solo career, from 1953 to 1957, when McRae grew from a prominent big-band singer and New York club star into a chart-recognized solo jazz artist. The selection includes “A Foggy Day” (1953) and the energetic “Get Set” (1955), along with Great American Songbook standards: “Midnight Sun,” “Yesterdays,” the complex “Lush Life,” “My Funny Valentine,” and “Yardbird Suite.” The release offers a historical cross-section of the singer at the height of her early period and is aimed at vocal jazz fans, vinyl collectors, and those invested in preserving jazz heritage.

Tracklist:
01-01 Carmen McRae - A Foggy Day [2:07]
01-02 Carmen McRae - If I'm Lucky [3:03]
01-03 Carmen McRae - Get Set [2:52]
01-04 Carmen McRae - Midnight Sun [3:45]
01-05 Carmen McRae - Yesterdays [2:35]
01-06 Carmen McRae - Speak Low (When You Speak, Love) [3:09]
01-07 Carmen McRae - I'll Remember April [2:38]
01-08 Carmen McRae - I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket [2:24]
01-09 Carmen McRae - Yardbird Suite [1:58]
01-10 Carmen McRae - You Took Advantage Of Me [2:34]
01-11 Carmen McRae - Lush Life [3:36]
01-12 Carmen McRae - I Can't Escape From You [3:32]
01-13 Carmen McRae - My Funny Valentine [4:22]
01-14 Carmen McRae - Nice Work If You Can Get It [2:31]
01-15 Carmen McRae - East of the Sun (And West of the Moon) [2:16]
01-16 Carmen McRae - Exactly Like You [2:12]