Chopin Piano Favorites

One of Laserlight's many inexpensive box sets, LADIES OF JAZZ combines three of the budget reissue label's previous releases into one set. ELLA FITZGERALD WITH THE TOMMY FLANAGAN TRIO finds jazz's greatest female singer with her favorite accompanist, bop-schooled pianist Tommy Flanagan. The small-scale intimacy of the trio format gives that amazing, liquid voice room to work its magic. Sarah Vaughan's EMBRACEABLE YOU collects some of the Divine One's most creative and unique work, including a sterling version of the title track. Carmen McRae's VELVET SOUL finds the younger and somewhat more adventurous singer at her most accessible, featuring excellent, lush versions of "Nice Work If You Can Get It" and "Straighten Up and Fly Right" among its gems. The three albums are also available individually.