Eddie Jefferson, one of the four kings of vocalese and known in his later years for collaborations with Richie Cole, released his acclaimed second album Body and Soul in 1968 on Prestige. Leading off with a cover of Horace Silver’s “Psychedelic Sally”—a masterpiece tune cherished by jazz dancers and mods alike along with the original—the album also features a stellar selection including Joe Zawinul’s “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” (A3), the modal jazz pinnacle “So What,” and Charlie Parker’s bebop classic “Now’s The Time,” which would go on to become a favorite in Jefferson’s live repertoire. With its hip arrangements and Eddie’s deeply felt phrasing, this is a definitive vocalese record packed with refined taste and groove.
