VARIOUS ARTISTS
Verve Remixed 3 (Verve)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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For the third time, the powers that be at Verve have thrown their hallowed vaults open to a variety of mixers and producers, not so much to update as to re-imagine the work of some of the jazz titans the label has recorded through the years.

Inevitably, some such experiments are more successful than others, and appreciation of the new efforts is colored for me by my relative devotion to the originals. Although it may well be as good or better than anything on the disc to many, for instance, I just can't think of a single reason to mess with Sarah Vaughn's "Fever" at all. But, again, that's me.

In some cases the new mix shows such reverence for the original material that it's bound to satisfy any listener. The Bent remix of Billy Holiday's "Speak Low," for instance, is a track that you can easily imagine Holiday herself participating in. On the other hand, Shirley Horn is compressed almost beyond recognition on "Come Dance With Me," marring my appreciation for the track. Again, though, those who aren't in the ranks of Horn's devotees may not be so affected. Setting aside that concern, it's a nifty dance track. (Dinah Washington suffers a similar fate at the hands of Danger Mouse with an ultimately less satisfying result).

All told, it's a disc stuffed with creativity, both in source selection and in execution, and while some tracks may offer more enjoyment than others, each offers something of interest and value.

Track List:

Nina Simone - Little Girl Blue (Postal Service Remix) * Billie Holiday - Speak Low (Bent Remix) * Anita O'Day - Sing, Sing, Sing (RSL Remix) * Sarah Vaughn - Fever (Adam Freeland Remix) * Shirley Horn - Come Dance With Me (Sugardaddy Remix) * Blossom Dearie - Just One Of Those Things (Brazilian Girls Remix) * Astrud Gilberto - The Gentle Rain (RJD2 Remix) * Sarah Vaughn - Peter Gunn (Max Sedgley Remix) * Jimmy Smith - Stay Loose (Lyrics Born Remix) * Hugh Masekela - The Boy's Doin' It (Carl Craig Remix) * Nina Simone - Lilac Wine (The Album Leaf Remix) * Billie Holiday - Yesterdays (Junior Boys Remix) * Dinah Washington - Baby, Did You Hear? (Danger Mouse Remix)

© 2005 - Shaun Dale