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(More customer reviews)Ms O'Day preferred the title "stylist" as opposed to "singer" which I find an interesting distinction. I gather she made the distinction in acknowledgement that she had little vocal range, an ordinary tone, and a strange timbre.
My first significant encounter with her music was post Gene Krupa with the release in 1956 of ANITA by Norman Granz and the best version of HONEYSUCKLE ROSE with its solo bass opening and quartet of trombones closing the final chorus. The whole album though, was and remains, one of her best, and one of the best of any JAZZ singer. And that's where her reputation so superbly lies - as one of the very best JAZZ vocalists ever, and an individual woman who was a great survivor in a very difficult business - that she was embraced by the jazz community including afro american musicians, she got through the heroin journey, she overcame the "canary" prejudice of "girl" singer by her musical brilliance in being accepted rather as another musical INSTRUMENT instead of the "front" for a band.
This documentary - one of the best (musical ones) I've seen which was featured in the 2008 Sydney Film Festival - also reveals her character. Moral strength, modesty, honesty, understanding and self awareness and I guess, joy of music, of living, are her distinguishing characteristics.
PLenty of good music in the film as well!!
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