Like Petula Clark in the U.K., Sweden's Alice Babs got her professional start early, at age 15. Her recording career began in 1939 followed by her film appearances in Swedish films in 1940. She always played the country's goodhearted Patty Duke-type. [Photo above of Alice Babs]
Babs in films quickly became a thing with Swedish teens, much to the chagrin of the older, more staid generation who found the youthful mania that grew up around her distasteful. Largely known as a jazz singer outside of Sweden, she sang folklore, Elizabethan songs and opera in her native country.
Babs is probably best known in the U.S. for her collaborations with Duke Ellington, which began in 1963 (11 Years Later). There were seven in all. His Second and Third Sacred Concert were written for her three-octave range. [Photo above of Duke Ellington and Alice Babs]
A few weeks ago, Alan Matheson in Finland hipped me to her album Don't Be Blue, with Nils Lindberg's Third Saxes Galore. On the record, Babs is backed by a convoy of swinging reeds—soloing and playing together. And there are lots of sax section solos, for those who dig them.
Recorded in May 2001, the album would be her last before her death in 2009. The musicians on the album were Alice Babs (vcl), Anders Paulsson (sop,ts), Hans Akesson (as), Krister Andersson and Joakim Milder (ts), Peter Gullin (bar), Nils Lindberg (p,arr), Jan Adefelt (b) and Bengt Stark (d).
The tracks:
- I Didn't Know What Time It Was
- If I Were Eve
- Portrait of Django
- Song for the Dreamer
- Baroque Stomp
- As You Are
- Takin' a Chance on Love
- Marit's Song
- I Could Write a Book
- Vocalise
- Prophonem
- In a Mellow Tone
- Thank You for Everything (Lotus Blossom)
Babs had a lovely voice that always held its pitch, no matter what risks she took on songs. Also of note is Lindberg's piano, which is gorgeous, and the superb soprano saxophone of Anders Paulsson.
There's much to explore with Alice Babs, a pro at every stage of her career. A benefit of starting early. The fact that Ellington took to her is all you need to know, but her albums with Lindberg (there are quite a few) also are superb. This album is a fabulous introduction to the singer and Swedish jazz.
JazzWax tracks: Alice Babs's Don't Be Blue can be found as a digital download here.
JazzWax clips: Here's I Didn't Know What Time It Was (dig the saxes!)...
I Didn't Know What Time It Was
Here's Baroque Stomp (composed by Olle Lindberg, son of Nils)...
Here's As You Are (lyrics Red Mitchell and music by Nils Lindberg)...
And here's I Could Write a Book...
