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JAZZ AROUND TOWN - September 2009
THE 2009 ORANGE COUNTY CLASSIC JAZZ FESTIVAL
ANITA O'DAY ON DVD
Anita O'Day: The Life Of A Jazz Singer is an utterly intriguing film by Robbie Cavolina and Ian McCrudden. O'Day was
one of the major jazz singers, particularly during the 1941-64 period. Although she came out of the swing era, having
hits with the Gene Krupa Orchestra, she fully understood bebop, making a series of memorable recordings for the
Verve label. She was a heroin addict during her prime years but, after almost dying from an overdose in the late
1960s, she kicked it and had a major comeback in the 1970s, also writing her colorful and frank autobiography High
Times, Hard Times. But having given up heroin, she became an alcoholic, and that plus the ravages of age led to a
quick decline by the mid-1980s although she continued performing until shortly before her death in 2006.
The Life Of A Jazz Singer mixes together interviews with O'Day from several different sources and time periods (piecing
them together to tell the story), a lot of comments from associates, and excerpts from performances including many
rare clips. On the down side, the first half hour moves so fast that few clips last over five seconds. Surprisingly little is
said about O'Day's childhood, there is nothing about the breakup of the Gene Krupa band, and the 1975-2000 period
is largely ignored. But there are many fascinating moments along the way, including O'Day quickly organizing a band
on the Art Ford TV show, her performing duets with pianist Billy Taylor, and some fresh and funny stories.
While The Life Of A Jazz Singer is available in conventional form, the deluxe version includes a large and colorful
scrapbook of clippings from Anita O'Day's career (although not in chronological order) and a second DVD that has 13
complete performances including her two soundies with Krupa, “Tabby The Cat” with Stan Kenton, the Art Ford
appearances, a dazzling version of “Tea For Two” from the early 1960s, “Boogie Blues,” “Four Brothers” and “Sweet
Georgia Brown” from Jazz On A Summer's Day. This highly recommended package is available from www.anitaoday.
com