CD of the Day - "Chris Connor: Classic"

CD of the Day
Chris Connor: "Classic" (Contemporary) 1987

Recorded on August 5 & 6 in NY, produced by Helen Keane, features keyboardists Richard Rodney Bennett (who also wrote all the arrangements) & Mike Abene, bassist Rufus Reid, Japanese drummer Akira Tana, Cuban alto sax player Paquito D'Rivera and Brazilian trumpeter Claudio Roditi. Nice liner notes by Larry Kart.
The program includes two Brazilian songs: "Brazil" (aka "Aquarela do Brasil," by Ary Barroso) and "Sweet Happy Life" (the English title of Luiz Bonfá/Antonio Maria's "Samba de Orfeu"), both with their seldom heard English lyrics added by Bob Russell and Norman Gimbel, respectively.
Other highlights: "Laura," "In Love in Vain," "Blame it on My Youth," "We'll Be Together Again" and the CD bonus track "The Nearness of You."
Hope that Concord, which now controls the Contemporary/Fantasy catalog, will reissue it soon.