Like vocalist Carol Sloane, Nancy Harrow came up just as the music world flipped upside down. Jazz was out, rock and soul were in and that was that. But like Carol, Nancy powered forward.
In the early 1960s and again beginning in the late 1970s, Nancy recorded 16 albums with Buck Clayton, Dick Katz, Jim Hall, John Lewis, Phil Woods, Connie Kay, Gary McFarland, Frank Wess, Bob Brookmeyer, Roland Hanna and Clark Terry. Throughout this period, Nancy explored songs with a Billie Holiday lilt. [Photo above of Nancy Harrow]
Last year, at 93, Nancy went into two studios for a new album—Second Thoughts (Benfan Music). First, in April, she recorded at Teaneck Sound in New Jersey, backed by Ted Rosenthal (p), Rufus Reid (b) and Dennis Mackrel (d), who also wrote the arrangements.
Then in July, she recorded with just Ted accompanying at Eastside Sound in New York. The results are wonderful. Ted's piano accompaniment for both sessions are exquisite and loving.
The album features both originals and well-chosen standards, and Nancy handles them all with style. Eight of the 11 songs are by Nancy (words and music), who previously recorded five of them on earlier CDs. As she said in an email:
"The title song was never recorded before. I just wrote it this year (2024). "Can’t Say Goodbye" was also never recorded before. It was written for the theater piece "About Love" that was based on a Turgenev short story and sung by the actor in the show, but never recorded. "Dear Max" was sung by Grady Tate on my "Winter Dreams" CD, but I had never sung it before."
It takes courage to record at any age, but most especially when retirement is the easier option. But that's not Nancy. She's always been a worker and lover of music.
What's more, Nancy's music lyrics have a fun feel, reminiscent of Mose Allison, Dave Frishberg, Bob Dorough and Blossom Dearie. Dear Max, Life Is Short and The House on the Low Round Hill come to mind. All have a girlish feel that makes them especially engaging.
Second Thoughts is a playfully serious reminder that life is lived in stages, and if you think you have it rough now, just you wait. Hopefully this isn't a swan song album, just a seasoned pro having another go at what she loves to do most.
The tracks:
- Am I Beautiful (Nancy Harrow)
- Somebody Loves Me (George Gershwin-MacDonald)
- I Am Too Shy (Nancy Harrow)
- I Thought About You (Van Heusen-Mercer)
- My Ship (Weill-Ira Gershwin)
- Dear Max (Nancy Harrow)
- Life Is Short (Nancy Harrow)
- Self-Esteem (Nancy Harrow)
- The House on the Low Round Hill (Nancy Harrow)
- Can't Say Goodbye (Nancy Harrow)
- Second Thoughts (Nancy Harrow)
To read my 2015 JazzWax interview with Nancy, go here.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Nancy Harrow's Second Thoughts (Benfan) here and on streaming platforms.
FYI, Fresh Sound has Nancy's Wild Women Don't Have the Blues (1960) and You Never Know (1962) on one CD here.
JazzWax clips: Here's I Thought About You...
Here's Dear Max...
And here's The House on the Low Round Hill...
Bonus: Here's a photo of Nancy in the studio, as the clip features her singing Second Thoughts, with Ted Rosenthal accompanying on piano...
Here's Nancy with the Buck Clayton Jazz Stars in 1960, with Buck Clayton (tp, arr); Dickie Wells (tp); Tom Gwaltney (cl,as); Buddy Tate (ts); Danny Bank (bs); Dick Wellstood (p); Kenny Burrell (g); Milt Hinton (b) and Oliver Jackson (d). How's that lineup for a New York session?...
And here's Song for the Dreamer, with the Gary McFarland Orchestra, featuring Willie Dennis (tb); Phil Woods (cl); Sol Schlinger (bs); Dick Katz (p); Jim Hall (g); Tommy Williams (b); Connie Kay (d); and Gary McFarland (arr,cond)...
More on Nancy Harrow, go here.
