“Twisted: The Best of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross” (Original recordings 1957-61)<i> Rhino</i>

Along with King Pleasure and Eddie Jefferson, LH&R; spearheaded the “vocalese” movement in jazz, wherein human voices phrased like--and often directly copped--classic horn solos and band arrangements. Though the star was Annie Ross, whose icy-smooth soprano was matched by her feisty natural presence, her voice blended together with Dave Lambert’s and Jon Hendricks’ as though the three were of a single mind. They pulled off difficult section harmonies and complex arrangements with apparent ease. Whether interpreting such standards as “Every Day I Have the Blues,” “Caravan” and “Going to Chicago” or tackling such vibrant originals as “Twisted,” Doodlin’ ” and “Farmer’s Market,” the trio was consistently elegant and exciting, capturing the essence of the bohemian/intellectual Beat era and defining vocalese methodology. The modern-day Manhattan Transfer has attempted to revive the LH&R; formula in a current context and has met with not a little commercial success, but its studied, stilted efforts fail to approach the easy cool and tenacious brilliance of these recordings. It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing!