Alexandria
A coffee-table book called Jazz Covers came into my hands recently. As the title implies it brings together many jazz LP sleeve designs – not only the usual suspects like Reid Miles' covers for Blue Note, but all manner of other labels' offerings too. Among these were many records I didn't know and hadn't heard, a small subset of which were recordings by jazz singers I'd previously been unaware of. Checking out some of these vocalists via YouTube, I took a particular shine to one of them: Lorez Alexandria. An order for a used CD copy of her 1964 album Alexandria the Great (the one illustrated in the book) soon followed, and the disc arrived on Thursday. I greatly enjoyed listening to it.
The singer, whose given name was Dolorez Alexandria Turner, had a warm contralto voice, with diction and phrasing sometimes reminiscent of Shirley Horn's – albeit with a darker-hued, smokier tone. On Alexandria the Great are a few big band numbers, with the remainder of the songs incorporating trio or quintet accompaniments including such notable musicians as Wynton Kelly and Paul Chambers. Three of the tracks are Loewe-Lerner compositions from 1964's hit musical movie My Fair Lady. Among the others is an idiosyncratic take on an earlier soundtrack stand-out, ‘Over the Rainbow’. For an example of her style, how about listening to 'I've Never Been in Love Before'.
In Thornbury on Saturday I added yet another charity shop overcoat to my collection, this one a three-quarter length garment in mid-grey wool by Guards, a brand that is still part of a going concern. With 'Made in England' on its label, I'd imagine this one is likely of 20th-Century vintage. I've accumulated ten or so overcoats now, from a smart full length but relatively lightweight navy blue Crombie coat good for cool spring and autumn days, through a snugly warm Burton houndstooth coat (which, if the 21.12.61 on a quality control label in its pocket is really a date, is seven years my senior!); to a ridiculously large and heavy Chester Barrie coat I reserve for the very worst of weathers. I feel lucky to have the luxury of abundant choice in the matter of outerwear.
After coming in to the new year with a cold I had all of a day and a half of feeling just about recovered – before succumbing to a second winter virus, which is in full effect now.