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Helen Merrill

Vocal

1940s - 2000s

Emerging in the mid-'50s, Helen Merrill is now universally regarded as the greatest of jazz singers.

Biography

Jazz singer Helen Merrill recorded with such notable figures as Clifford Brown and Gil Evans in the mid-50s, but eventually relocated to Italy, becoming a familiar figure at European festivals. In the early-60s, she returned to America but had difficulty in attracting major label interest, although she made a handful of superior albums, including 1968's A SHADE OF DIFFERENCE, backed by leading musicians such as Thad Jones, Elvin Jones, and Jim Hall. By the late-60s, Merrill was living in Japan, where her talents were much appreciated. Returning home in the mid-70s, she continued to record excellent albums, notably JUST FRIENDS (1989) for Emarcy and 1996’s superb THE NIGHT AND MUSIC for Verve.

Discography

Influences

Artists Influenced by Helen Merrill

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