Mel Torme – Yesterday When I Was Young

“Yesterday When I Was Young” (Vannier, Mercer, Gerard)

Album: “Mel Tormé ‎– Plays It Cool“, 2004

Mel Tormé ‎– Plays It Cool

Nina Simone – Forbidden Fruit (Full Album)

Forbidden Fruit is the third studio album by Nina Simone. It was her second studio album for Colpix.

Reception

The contemporaneous DownBeat reviewer commented that Forbidden Fruit was not a jazz album, but added that “Simone demonstrates here that she has the equipment and some of the potential to be a fairly good jazz vocalist”.

Born On July 18: Carl Fonatana

* AI-generated background composition created with SUNO.

On This Day in Jazz History — July 13, 1954 🔥DINAH WASHINGTON RECORDED "TEACH ME TONIGHT," ONE OF THE DEFINING PERFORMANCES OF HER CAREER. Originally written by Gene DePaul and Sammy Cahn, Teach Me Tonight had already been recorded by several artists, but Dinah Washington transformed it into something unforgettable. Her combination of jazz phrasing, blues feeling, and conversational storytelling turned the song into a major hit, reaching the pop charts and introducing her to an even wider audience. This recording perfectly illustrates why she earned the title "Queen of the Blues." Every phrase is delivered with elegance, warmth, and impeccable swing—qualities that continue to inspire jazz singers today. Why it matters:

🎙️ One of Dinah Washington's signature recordings.

🎼 A brilliant example of jazz crossing into mainstream popular music.

"You can't rob me of my music. It's in me."

~ Bud Powell

COREA / GADD / MCBRIDE - SUPER TRIO (LIVE AT THE ONE WORLD THEATRE, APRIL 3RD, 2005)

Jim Hall – Jazz Guitar

Jazz Guitar is the debut album by jazz guitarist Jim Hall recorded in early 1957 for the Pacific Jazz label.

Reception

Ken Dryden (AllMusic)  wrote that the album “is a valuable introduction to the long, successful career of Jim Hall. The music sticks to familiar standards from the swing era and is often low key, much like the man himself.”