Jazz for Broken Hearts

This Japanese compilation from Verve's catalog is aptly named. It includes 18 busted love tracks from as many different artists -- most of whom are standard-bearers in the tradition. The other compelling thing here is that there are truly odd choices that really work. A single example in terms of type would be the inclusion of Mel Tormé singing the utterly depressing "Gloomy Sunday" and turning it into a ballad that doesn't make you want to slit your wrists at all, but simply to empathize with the song's protagonist. Other selections of note are Frank D'Rone's reading of "Everything Happens to Me" (which rivals Chet Baker's), Lorez Alexandria's version of "I'm Through with Love," and the stellar Billy Eckstine version of "What Will I Tell My Heart?" There are no weak moments here and some bona fide classic cuts to be sure -- Anita O'Day's "When Sunny Gets Blue" and Dinah Washington's "Cry Me a River" are merely two examples. Add beautifully remastered sound to the track selection and this comp is definitely worth the extra high price tag. ~ Thom Jurek