Recorded November 6 & 7, 1984, at Delta Recording Studios, New York, NY.
A subtle and lightly swinging jazz singer, Maxine Sullivan's delivery was very likable, and she did justice to all of the lyrics she sang during her long career. After moving to New York, Sullivan sang during intermissions at the Onyx Club and was discovered by pianist Claude Thornhill. Thornhill recorded her with a sympathetic septet singing a couple of standards and two Scottish folk songs performed in swinging fashion - "Annie Laurie" and "Loch Lomond." The latter became a big hit and Sullivan's signature song for the rest of her career.

Maxine Sullivan's final concert (although she would record part of her Jule Styne tribute studio album for Atlantic a few months later) is an excellent retrospective of her career. Joined by tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton's quintet (with pianist John Bunch and guitarist Chris Flory), Sullivan performs for the final time some of her favorite numbers, including nostalgic and near-classic renditions of "As Long as I Live," "I Got a Right to Sing the Blues," "A Hundred Years From Today" and "You're Driving Me Crazy." Ironically, the final song that Maxine Sullivan sang was also the same tune that she had used to start her recording career back in 1937, "Loch Lomond."

The first of her two Concord CDs, this set features veteran singer Maxine Sullivan performing ten of her favorite songs, all of which originated from the swing era or before. Sullivan sounds quite happy to be joined by tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton's very complementary quintet (which also includes guitarist Chris Flory and pianist John Bunch). The best among the familiar songs are Maxine's renditions of "I Thought About You," "Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams," "By Myself" and "I Got a Right to Sing the Blues."

The first half of this album features a remarkable assembly of top flight players whose efforts are admirably anchored by the rock-solid drumming of another small group veteran, Panama Francis. The undeniable highlight is an eight minute tour de force entitled "Story Of The Jazz Trumpet," and it is difficult to imagine anyone else pulling it off as effectively as Shavers. His musical mimicry is dead on and infused with sly humor. The narration was provided by legendary disc jockey Al "Jazzbo" Collins, who invited his radio listeners to join him in a whimsical world he dubbed the "Purple Grotto." He retained a devoted following until his death in 1997. The album's second half shifts gears as the old Kirby sextet is recreated and the marvelous Maxine Sullivan is welcomed aboard to reprise two signature tunes…

The basic and pleasing vocals of Maxine Sullivan are quite enjoyable. This CD has her first 23 recordings, including three songs originally released under pianist Claude Thornhill's name; Thornhill (who helped discover the singer) is on all of the selections. The original version of "Loch Lomond" is among the highlights and became a huge hit, leading to Sullivan's lightly swinging renditions of other folk songs such as "Darling Nellie Gray" and "Dark Eyes." Joined by such fine musicians as trumpeters Manny Klein, Frank Newton, Charlie Shavers and Bobby Hackett (all of whom are heard from briefly), along with the future members of the John Kirby Sextet, Maxine Sullivan is heard throughout in her early prime (she was 26-27 years old during this period).

Avid Jazz here presents four classic Charlie Shavers albums plus including original LP liner notes on a finely re-mastered and low priced double CD. “Tribute To Andy Razaf featuring Maxine Sullivan”; “Horn O’ Plenty; The Most Intimate; Blue Stompin’ Plus Flow Gently Sweet Rhythm Excluding Commentary.
Our first album “Tribute to Andy Razaf” features singer Maxine Sullivan accompanied by amongst others, our featured artist Charlie Shavers on trumpet alongside Jerome Richardson, Dick Hayman and Milt Hinton. Andy Razaf was best known as Fats Waller’s collaborator and appropriately enough this set by Ms.Sullivan is both a tribute to Razaf and Fats! “Flow Gently Sweet Rhythm” again features Maxine Sullivan with Charlie Shavers leading the original John Kirby Band…

The second Classics CD in their Maxine Sullivan series has all of the subtle singer's recordings from a 2½-year period. Since "Loch Lomond" had been such a big hit, Sullivan was persuaded to record quite a few Scottish folk songs in a similar light swing style. Included on this CD from that idiom are such numbers as "I Dream of Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair," "Drink to Me With Thine Eyes," "Turtle Dove," "If I Had a Ribbon Bow," "Molly Malone," and "Barbara Allen." Although those performances are enjoyable, the actual high points of this release are such tunes as "It Ain't Necessarily So," "Ill Wind," "The Hour of Parting" and "What a Difference a Day Made"…