Discoveries

I've discovered that you're never done discovering.

Last week, we were at the library, and, following a whim, I plucked a CD from the rack of "eye candy" they keep at the checkout counter and plunked it down.

Mr. asked what it was. My reply: "I don't know. But I guess I'll find out."

The title was Twisted. The group was Hendricks, Lambert and Ross.

I had no expectations when I popped this "best of" CD into the player in my car. I'd never heard of the trio, and all I knew was what I'd learned from a glance at the back of the jewel case.

They positively knocked my socks off. They sang "vocalese," a jazz technique which was their specialty. My favorite so far is Cottontail, the Beatrix Potter tale of Peter Rabbit, sung from the viewpoint of Peter (Hendricks), with Lambert and Ross playing the moralist chorus, set to a Duke Ellington arrangement. I listened to the CD again and again to and from work, straining to catch all of the words, which went by in a blur. The effort was worthwhile. The lyrics are witty, snappy and playfully rhymed.

I had to know more. So, as is my wont, I trolled the internets.

The trio consisted of Jon Hendricks, David Lambert and Annie Ross. They recorded from 1957 (Sing a Song of Basie) until 1962.

Jon Hendricks penned most of the lyrics. He was born in Newark, Ohio in 1921. He paired up with David Lambert (born 1917). The two had a solid hit, but it wasn't until they brought Annie Ross on board that their music took off.

Annie Ross was born in 1930 in England, moved to Los Angeles when she was four, and had a unique portfolio, including an appearance in an Our Gang comedy. She brought with her the acclaimed vocalese song, Twisted. That she made the duo a trio was more of an afterthought. Lambert and Hendricks originally brought her into the studio as more of a consultant. The idea had been to hire a chorale group for back-up, but the sound didn't work. In desperation, and fearing the wrath of the recording company for spending $1,250 for the group, they decided to meet back at the studio after hours to see how they could salvage the sound. In an overnight session, they put together their first album, and it took off.

After Annie Ross left in 1962, the group was never the same. Replacements came and went. David Lambert was the next to leave. He perished in 1966, a good Samaritan to the end, killed by a semi on the interstate as he tried to help a fellow traveler change a flat tire.

Hendricks and Ross reunited in the 1990's and toured for a spell. But I couldn't find anything more recent about them.

This holiday, I'm getting my own copy of Twisted. And I'll continue trolling the library for new worlds.

Not every item I explore becomes a new favorite.

But when I do hit pay dirt, my newest discovery makes it all worthwhile.