I previously mentioned Johnny Hartman in passing (in the Joe Williams post some time back) — but Hartman deserves his own FNJ post:
Harman’s voice is deep, dark and rich, his sense of pitch superb, his diction outstanding. If you want a mellifluous, honey-toned baritone, there is none better.
He was a crooner on par with Sinatra (if not better); indeed, Hartman may very well have been the greatest jazz balladeer of all time.
His best known work was the superb John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman – a beautiful, must own jazz classic — but in the same year (1963), he also released I Just Dropped by to Say Hello, with Illinois Jacquet as his sideman.
It is an overlooked masterpiece.
There’s a terrific NPR Jazz Profile of Johnny Hartman that is well worth exploring — definitely check out Murray Horowitz and A.B. Spellman discussing the John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman album.
bonus trivia: Clint Eastwood (a jazz aficionado) used 4 of Hartman’s songs in the soundtrack to The Bridges of Madison County — Hartman became more popular after his death than he was when he was alive.
This was the only youtube video I could find — the second song (Nobody Home) is more of a showcase for his voice:
I also have to check out Johnny Hartman – The Voice That Is — looks pretty interesting
barry, all i can say to this one is that you are right: johnny hartman is a master and a monster, and both the CDs you recommend are first-raters.
Thank God for Friday Night Jazz, the only post of the week in which Barry has something positive to say.
One of my favorites – the voice that can melt even the coldest heart.
Johnny Hartman singing “My One And Only Love” Perfection!