ProJazz.net

Ethel Ennis was considered a rising vocal talent back in the 1950s. Even the great  Billie Holiday was one of the singer’s fans, and during that time, she could be heard performing alongside the likes of Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.

Ennis’s career started with plenty of promise back in 1955, but after a number of years on the road, she grew tired of the many demands that fame as a young vocalist brought. Burnt out by a relentless touring schedule, Ennis would eventually resettle in her hometown of Baltimore, the very same city where Lady Day grew up.

It was there that Ethel became a staple of the city’s jazz scene, both as a performer and educator. Ethel Ennis died in 2019, aged 86, and many a music fan in Maryland would remember the singer fondly. Ennis recorded a number of albums back in her early days, and her debut certainly was a highlight. Featuring names like Hank Jones at the piano and Kenny Clarke on drums, this dark, moody record was aptly titled ‘Lullabies for Losers‘, and it’s a real stand-out for the young balladeer, showcasing a singer finding her voice on some lesser-known jazz standards (ABC Australia).

Track listing:

A1 Love for Sale 0:00
A2 Dreamer-Dreamer 3:26
A3 Blue Prelude 8:04
A4 Off Shore 11:06
A5 Casually 14:05
B1 Hey Jacques 18:11
B2 Lullaby for Losers 21:21
B3 Say It Ain’t So, Joe 24:28
B4 You Better Go Now 27:34
B5 Blue Willow 30:49
B6 Bon Voyage 34:20

Personnel:

Ethel Ennis – vocals
Hank Jones – piano
Eddie Biggs – guitar
Abie Baker – bass
Kenny Clarke – drums

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Label: Jubilee – LP-1021
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Country: US
Released: 1956