Anita O’Day
Live in Tokyo ‘63
Kayo
By George W. Harris

If you want to know what’s wrong with most present day female singers, just put this DVD into your system and see what the real thing looks like in comparison. Sass, style, and swing are in abundance in this essential presentation of Anita O’Day. At the peak of her vocal prowess, in the midst of her halcyon days with Verve, she went to Tokyo and gave a textbook perfect concert that was thankfully televised for posterity. Switching between big band and small group formats, O’Day gives quintessential renditions of tunes like “Trav’lin’ Light” and “Honeysuckle Rose”. The orchestra, performing arrangements by the famous Buddy Bregman, is surprisingly sharp and hip. The real gems, though are the astoundingly snappy small group treatments. Anita gives these local musicians a run for their money on the rapid fire “Tea For Two” and each soloist is more than up to the challenge, as they coolly trade fours, twos, and thrillingly, ones. As for Anita herself she’s simply a thrill a minute as she gives definitive treatments to “Four Brothers” and “You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To.” Her pre-rock era hair and outfit for the performance are quite a hoot, amply showing that there was life before The Beatles, and yes, our parents DID have better music than we.