Anita O'Day @ Ronnie Scott's

Anita O'day at Ronnie Scott's in 1985
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[@phaasch]

I was a member at this time, and had the pleasure of attending one night of Anita O'Day's tenure. 35 years just roll away, and I'm back there, amongst the tobacco smoke, Ronnies sausage and mash, and the whole wonderful atmosphere. Its like a time machine. Just wish I was 25 again!

[@wolfgangsuehrer5405]

I can really understand your sentiments; nice to be able to remember the highlights of one's life. God Luck furthermore!

[@krunkin1]

dang, some of you jazz nerds are picky. this woman is magnificent. captivating.

[@JoanBette]

A master of her craft. And the musicianship is genius level.

[@fortywattpearl]

Genius of rhythm and phrasing.

[@imbees2]

Anita was up in years during this recording, but sounded better than ever.

[@stephenvincent4989]

Anita O’Day a true JAZZ LEGEND - she could stand tall with any of the greats - she epitomized the art.

[@altoozair]

Every so often I need to review that clip of Anita at Newport in Jazz on a Summer’s Day

[@stephenvincent4989]

@@altoozair Yes, me too there is something truly magical about that set, Anita conveys to me memories of special summers past in a both calm and uplifting way.

[@attymsd1]

Anita O'Day, somewhere past her prime here at age 66, but still in command of the greatest natural jazz vocal talent of any female singer in the 20th century bar none.

[@johnanderson1916]

Mark Devenow Bullsh!t

[@attymsd1]

John Anderson Well she's off drugs at this point. But her vocal range is clearly diminished even if/as she retains near perfect pitch. And if John Anderson cannot see that I would recommend a hearing consult.

[@arniemax1]

Mark Devenow ....Indeed. So many jazz vocalists...The world ( what I'm aware of) hears far to lIttle of Ms. O'day....Exceptional, yet not spoken of, among the greats of Jazz where She deserves to be.

[@faccipazzo1]

+Mr. Lopez 2681: WHO ?

[@faccipazzo1]

+Arniemax1: You sounded alright, until you started to '' Think you know, babble. I don;t know any Jazz buff anywhere in the world that isn't unaware of Anita O'Day. How old are You ? Do you have any idea how many Junkies nodded out to Anita O'Day in the 50;s, 60;s, and 70;s ? Trust me, Anita, Chris Connor, Annie Ross and June Christy were and still are, the Ultimate White Girl Jazz Singers [ EVER !!] Research it. Listen to'' Farmers Market ''', and '' Twisted '' by Annie Ross of England, or '' Something Cool '' by June Christy. Then get back at me.

[@kjun03]

All the ingredients of a consummate entertainer! I just like her and keep collecting her! Quite a stand up individual!!! Thanks!!!

[@kkay66]

I love her!

[@ophirsart]

The pianist's name is Merrill Hoover. He was an incredible mentor and friend and he is sorely missed. R.I.P. He told me some amazing stories about Anita. I'm thankful to see this video. Thank you so much.

[@jazzinreds]

I saw Mr. Hoover play for Anita in Ireland (of all places) in October 1987, I believe... I'd love to know more of him: this is the only recording of him I know... Can you, or anyone, recommend anything? Thank you in advance. 🙏

[@Gangstagran]

Would love to hear some of the stories! He’s an amazing pianist

[@anitawhite3864]

My name is Anita which my mother named me after you Anita ODay. Mother not knowing that I would be an entertainer myself. Starting at 14 years old up to my current age at 63. Love singing smoothe jazz. Love your style and I guess my mother did too.

[@jenniferlee5871]

She swings, age doesn’t stop talent. Keep on living and swinging and aging with a song !!!!!

[@TheRudydog1]

I made the mistake and read a few comments when I really came to hear the fabulous Anita O'day. I won't make that mistake next time. I'll just sit back and enjoy one of the best.

[@shaunsiz.itsbetterbytube2858]

Sweet Georgia brown jazz on a summers day by anita o day will never be topped

[@Rickriquinho]

Thank you, Jazz at Ronnie Scott's, for all these fantastic videos.

[@farnesio89]

Amazing performance! Jazz at its best! Future stars please! Hit the stage! There's so much music to create!

[@AntarblueGarneau]

All true but,,,Give her a break folks she just got a little old! Her voice got damaged. She was one of the greatest of all American singers. I saw her in Honolulu two years earlier and she didn't sing at all! She just MC'd. I am surprised and delighted she sings in this.

[@arvh1952]

Well said.

[@jerrycaughron7378]

Anita is one of the Greatest artist of all time! Remember! She is a lot older!. Go listen to Dinah Shore or Rosemary Clooney when they were past there prime..Now that was Sad! But to be expected! Anita sounds good!

[@davebarclay4429]

Anita was past her prime by this time but she still kicked ass the way very few singers in their late sixties can. She was also becoming increasingly difficult, "cranky" as the Americans would say, but, hell, she's Anita O'Day "song stylist" (her own term, she didn't like being called a singer) heroin survivor and the only white vocalist who can be mentioned in the same breath as Billie Holliday and Ella Fitzgerald. This is a wonderful tribute to a sublime artist. For anyone interested, her autobiography "High Times Hard Times" is a fantastic read.

[@sulevisydanmaa9981]

@Dave Barclay NANCY called herself that, late in her caeeer, on Yt on an i-view. Nevuhhh heard A call hself that ...

[@vadinandez]

She sure did in her book.

[@davebarclay4429]

@@sulevisydanmaa9981 Read her book

[@jasbegs1258]

On the likes of I can't get started- she is still superb here.

[@zenpetzmeditations5067]

Incredible!

[@dorothypoole8908]

I wrote her complete biography. She lived in our house several years. Listen to all the tapes all over the world.

[@jazzcornertv]

I just finished her Autobiography, and she has steered me to your book: "Jazz, Genius and Jail". I was able to obtain the 2 volumes. It definitely compliments her book and ties in further any loose ends I am truly enjoying it. A true No Holds Barred Book . Even videoed her Bass Player Jay Leonhart from her Carnegie 50 yr anniversary. Good job!

[@dorothypoole8908]

@@jazzcornertv Where did you see video of Jay Leonhart - Carnegie? It's copyrighted and has not been released.

[@jazzcornertv]

@@dorothypoole8908 Hello Mrs. Poole, Sorry for the confusion. I have never seen the video or was I even aware of its existence. This is indeed very good news for all of Anita's fans that would appreciate her performance one more time. I had Video recorded Jay Leonhart at one of his performances in NYC. The gentleman is in fine shape. Very funny and entertaining. He performed "Lenny and Me". Little did I know as a person who takes pride in reading artist biography that Anita would mention him very fondly for her 50th Anniversary Concert at Carnegie. A lot of the younger generation are not aware of how Jazz musicians tie a knot into each other good or bad. She definitely spoke highly of him in her autobiography and him having the honor to do her anniversary speaks volumes. He is part of the actual Living Legends that we are most fortunate to get the opportunity to see and hear "Live". I hope that the video will be shared one day in the future, but in the meantime I am working on your book. It is a definite must read and I am enjoying it. I hope that I was able to help clear things up.

[@leocescar]

Excelent performance!!! Amazing!! marvelous!! I love Anita...

[@brixtonbluebeat]

what an icon - of her time, never to be surpassed.

[@LudoBeckers]

wonderfull performance!

[@pichipachu]

Awesome musician! Her incredible history! Great personality! Grooving band! ... and at Ronnie's!

[@JBugz777]

She's awesome! - 4:39 - Jazzhead digging Anita, glances around to see if anyone else does...

[@campocat]

Here she really shows what an incredible musician she is, it brings me to tears.

[@stevecook8941]

Superb jazz singer.....read her book - it's warts and all !!

[@genecorrado]

HIGH TIMES HARD TIMES is a great book if you want to read about the "inside" of a jazz singers life on the road. I think she is wonderful.

[@davebarclay4429]

High Times Hard Times, probably the best jazz autobiography ever written.

[@campocat]

@@genecorrado As a musician for over 60 years every word in that book I've lived and I'm so glad it is getting more readers. I've tried to bring recognition to the great musicians I've played and lived with over the years too in my books. It's a hard life when the goal post keeps moving.

[@oreilledelicate]

Toujours extra et atypique Anita O Day ...une grande parmis les grandes ...:)

[@Jayjee762]

It’s a joy to watch a performer like herself enjoy herself so much. I’m very glad to have found this video; completely delightful :)

[@JeremyJKing]

Stunning. Love this concert

[@nicolascardenas2675]

she was the real deal! no matter the age! love her performance. ill pour myself another scots

[@jbarry625]

Went to see her twice at Ronnie's - she's a true legend

[@jasvirlota716]

Amazing Live Performance !

[@anairenemartinez165]

Jasvir Lota Her voice is a little under the influence of hard living, but who is complaining? At least she hung around a little longer than Judy. On later songs, having warmed up, she sounds just about perfect.

[@philcrescent8324]

That was terrible! I cant imagine sitting there for an hour listening to that. She moves like a reptile too. seriously.... thought it was crap.

[@Nethanel773]

Thank you for putting this up.

[@littlebird8837]

Wonderful!!

[@jiggy1949]

So Cool !! Thanks Jazz at Ronnie Scott's.

[@lucindawilson5510]

great thank you

[@wanderley1961]

UMA DAS MAIS GLORIOSAS DAMAS DO JAZZ !!! ESCANDALOSA !!!!!

[@jorgevargastoledo]

Awesome Girl

[@eulipion1]

The consumate professional. A masterful presentation!

[@mjcouceiro]

Awesome!

[@fabianfernandez7665]

¡ Amazing Very amaizing !!!

[@richardbellot3147]

OU est passé sa voix (trop discrète et confidentielle !)❤️🎶🎶🎶

[@jeneiistvan]

I adored this fantastic and bewhitching woman! Rest in peace Anita!

[@imbees2]

Sing it lady

[@stanjazzman702]

Anita O'Day A true Jazz Vocalist. Kudus to you 14 dislikes.

[@cjgaddy]

Amazing Anita!!!!! BTW, at 49:22, Anita says this is her 1986 escapade at Ronnie Scotts, (not 1985)

[@manguera9]

at 68 yr old Anita O Day was always a show Lady

[@imbees2]

This is 1985. Anita was born in 1919. OK!!!! Passed in 2006. A long life and a wonderful jazz vocalist. 87 When she passed. Alright now.

[@paulocoelho9840]

Isso que é voz e boa música

[@evanistrans-dimentional2092]

How in the heck can the people sitting in front looked so freaking bored?!?!?!? It's f'ing ANITA O'DAY!!! Some of them look like they have never seen a woman sing jazz before. I absolutely ❤ Anita, she is a LEGEND.

[@danielrivera9788]

Anita going strong in 1985!

[@TotzkeMike]

No one swings like Anita. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@Thursdaym2]

The coolest lady ever. A one off.

[@imbees2]

Perfect pitch. None of the pop singers today have that.

[@PaulMarinaro]

Anita is one of my all time favorites..but NEVER in her entire career could she be considered to have perfect pitch. ;-)

[@EXQUISITESOUNDS]

imbees2 What in the hell is perfect about this woman's pitch? She is horribly out of tune, always has been. No one is taking away from the fact that she was a musician who could keep time but please lets be honest. This is absolutely excruciating to the ear. To say things like the greatest natural female vocal talent of the 20th century is not only a blatant falsehood and revision of history, its disgraceful .What about the exquisite voices who actually created this artform? Sarah, Ella, Billie, Dakota, Lurlean, Dinah, Lorez, Carmen. Anita wasn't even the best of the white singers. What about Annie Ross, June Christy, Jerri Winters, Ann Richards, Chris Connor, I mean to each his own, but please can we at least be honest?

[@EXQUISITESOUNDS]

Paul Marinaro Thanks Mr. Marinaro for at least being honest! We can like or prefer whomever we choose, but to blatantly lie about obvious truths is insulting and totally disingenuous. She NEVER in her entire career had perfect pitch which she herself honestly acknowledged several times over the years.

[@GutpileCharlie]

+EXQUISITESOUNDS Couldn't have said it better my self.

[@faccipazzo1]

+Gutpile Charlie : Dam if you aren't right !!

[@joykanazawa9096]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@imbees2]

Anita tore that song up

[@alanprice7584]

Entranced by her voice used like an instrument, never heard anything like her when we saw her at Ronnie's back in the 70s.

[@fredh2486]

can take apart a song and put it back together

[@DaddySantaClaus]

i love how she is the boss

[@terencerainbow4354]

I love 'em all in cluding Amy (What a tragedy). buut Anita always m\kes me smile. I love her!!! For me she's the BEST.

[@yzubirt]

What a lady..!

[@glsd123]

could anyone add a track list with the links to the respective minutes in the recording? Thanks for sharing this wonder!

[@imbees2]

Hey nowwww Anita.

[@rodbennett1133]

What they said!😁

[@grishaslutsky]

Превосходно ! Спасибо за запись.....Ритм очень точен !!!

[@petershaw80]

One of the greats. A huge talent but maybe she went on a little too long. Loads of guts. And in her day one of the great jazz singers of all time. Up there with Fitz, Sassie and Lady Day.

[@user-sr5vf4wx4o]

🌈📻〜アニタ、オデー📻🌈流れてた〜🎵🎶🌈🌈

[@wevegraysquaw7855]

what a dame

[@WhiteCamry]

March 4, 1986.

[@mossmonaco9061]

M A G I C ❤

[@JulieHeathers]

WHAT Phrasing.......!

[@peterwright9934]

A few cognoscenti

[@DaddySantaClaus]

why do they have lead sheets on stage?

[@jiyujizai]

🌱🌸💛😀

[@craigallyn]

Who's in the band?

[@jefferyperkins4668]

What’s with audience? They don’t get it? Lame

[@richardbellot3147]

Elle skate comme ELLA,mais,c’était mieux plus jeune!!(c’est QUE mon avis!!)🎶🎶🎶

[@peterwright9934]

The audience I mean

[@celtick4985]

who cares about all the pitch and whatever ,she is a real good live performer , so just enjoy !!!!!

[@errornosuchuser9196]

lol. Think about what you said here! She's a singer and you don't care about the "pitch and whatever." I think you might be lost; it's the rap videos you meant to leave a comment on. A good jazz performer cares about pitch and a good listener demands it.

[@jeffreymayweather1049]

No, the late Anita O’Day didn’t have “the perfect pitch.” On many occasions the sax players in the Duke Ellington Band didn’t have the perfect pitch, but this category will not allow us to deride Ellington’s achievements. This is an old story: They raved about Billie Holiday in the Fifties mentioning her vocal decline, but it was nobody else than Miles Davis who defended her in 1958 (in an interview conducted by Nat Hentoff). Compare Miles Davis and, for instance, Wynton Marsalis. Who is the better trumpet player? Who is the mature artist? Arguments like that don’t lead us any further. I pity for those who are not able to experience Anita O’Day’s soulful contribution in the majority of her recorded output during the Forties and Fifties. Some of these self-assured critics should be glad there were no cameras & microphones directed to THEM during great parts of their lives. There should be some more RESPECT when trying to talk about the lasting oeuvre of creative artists, but in a world filled by Donalds & Hillaries in great numbers it may be an illusion to hope for it …

[@grillodurmiente1106]

jazz woman!

[@peterwright9934]

She really mixed with those musos

[@veeganboy]

Not her best performance by far. But still she does manage to shine at moments. Primarily, during her scatting during 'Four Brothers', a tune I think she always seemed to enjoy performing.

[@santiagorodriguez1904]

She is jazz at it's most classiest!! Thank you !!

[@alanoneill3065]

Anita was 66

[@ejammy1906]

I've read somewhere that she had perfect pitch, so either she couldn't hear herself or a little bit of age related hearing loss.

[@faccipazzo1]

Mr. Devenow if you need a list of hot female Jazz singers off the top of my head. Here,---Anita O'Day, Paula Toller, Chris Connor, Cleo Lane, Julie London, Melondy Gardot, June Christy, Bobby Jean Wilson, Diana Krall, Nora Jones, Kay Starr, Etta Jones, Peggy Lee, Annie Ross, and Marlena Shaw, etc., etc.,etc. That should give you a good start. And I didn't even speak on all the other great black female artist that there are. Like: Ella Fitzgerald, Sara Vaughn, Billy Holiday, Lena Horne, and Nancy Wilson, I Didn't want to drown you, in goodness.

[@colinwh111]

+CHARLES TRAINA I would also mention Carole Kidd, very much under rated but old blue eyes Sinatra rated her best in the UK, then their is Laura Fygi and Lou Dalgeish

[@peterwright9934]

The most musically smart of hem all

[@peterwright9934]

Them...

[@peterwright9934]

Thank you so much for this. I love Anita!

[@peterwright9934]

Some of these kids haven’t got a clue. Haha

[@sallybowles2781]

wow that audience looks like they lost their will to live a good decade earlier

[@faccipazzo1]

Mr. Devenow apparently, has never heard of Chris Connor even in the 21st century !!!

[@willower1614]

CHARLES TRAINA Thats a stretch

[@EXQUISITESOUNDS]

CHARLES TRAINA Dear Sir, Apparently Mr. Devenow never heard of anybody in the 20th century!!!!

[@GutpileCharlie]

The beginning sounded a "pitchy" to me? Couldn't tell if she just couldn't hear the pitch or if it was just age catching up with her. The swinging an improvision was great , but pitch suffered

[@bodhran1965]

Hilarious........she is obviously screwing with the band because she doesn't like the way they play.

[@Gangstagran]

Didn’t like the way she came on stage and shouted at her musicians. Then she mimics someone biting their nails. She came across as disrespectful to others.

[@JanetESmith-er8sk]

My Funny Valentine. Not your song Anita. This melody is far to lovely to take those kind of liberties with. Better to have sang it straight!

[@patrickvanhavere8663]

Nothing to see with the great composer. Good musicians but the rest is nothing short of a disaster.

[@AlanMcPike]

she was always an acquired and quirky taste and here we see exactly why. Intonation is awful and always was, she swings great and has the wealth of experience that money can't buy but she was never a really GREAT singer. The marvellous Tommy Whittle on tenor and flute commented, at a concert I was at many years ago, that she was a nightmare to work with!

[@paulverizzo6199]

+Alan McPike Some would disagree.

[@anairenemartinez165]

Alan McPike Well, if you mean she ain't Judy Garland, you are right, but then again, nobody was either. She seems like she did her own thing and following her sure maybe was a nightmare for any by the numbers musician.

[@anairenemartinez165]

Paul Verizzo How many can do this at any age? She was amazing here, listening to younger recording is mindblowing, I am not a jazz connoisseur

[@charlierumoleboi3578]

She was a nightmare to work with and bloody rude to her fans. One guy wanted to tell her how wonderful she was after a show, but was warned by another singer to be careful as Neets didn't take kindly to adoring fans. Undeterred he approached and said "Miss O'Day I just want to tell you I think you're great". She turned to him and said "oh, fuck off". Crestfallen, the fan, shocked and not sure how to reply, said "I will fuck off but I still think you're great". I had a similar encounter with her at Ronnie Scott's where she shot down my youthful adoration. Lovely lady! One of the greatest in her prime and a jazzer right to the very end.

[@waynej2608]

@@charlierumoleboi3578 Shocked or not, that guy had a great comeback line. Anyway, perhaps you guys caught her on an 'off night'. I'm confident others, on other nights, found her quite charming. At least you got to see and hear her. I wouldn't give two fcks, what her offstage disposition was, provided I could've caught her act live.

[@Sludgepump]

Sorry to be such a downer, but I thought this was F. awful! Am I the only one here? Fair play, I'm not an Anita O'Day fan for a start, and I'm sure she's well past her best, but this sounded like pure shit! SHOCK: The comments are near 100% positive up to this one. lolz :)

[@anairenemartinez165]

Sludgepump So she is not perfect, so what? She can swing, she was no spring chicken and lived hard but survived. She is a joy seeing how she ENJOYS pure and simple music. And so down to Earth!

[@errornosuchuser9196]

Not perfect? What??? I totally agree with Sludgepump. This is really dreadful! She sounds like an injured cat trying to get out of a sack. What's with all the "amazing performance" messages? Seriously, are you people completely tone deaf?

[@errornosuchuser9196]

@Sonny: Seriously? You like this? Anita was fantastic during the height of her career, but this is just dreadful. She should have stayed home and had the club play a few CDs. I think you're on the "stars in your eyes nostalgia band wagon" here Sonny. BTW, I think Sludgepump is a pretty good handle and his appraisal is honest and accurate!

[@philcrescent8324]

sonny cannon... So, you discount opinions based on a person's KZbin pseudonym? yea, I think you did " *simply* consider the source." I thought Anita sounded pretty off on this one too. She was good at one time, but this concert doesn't present her in a good light. C'mon Sonny, you said, "...TO START WITH...." What else you got?

[@errornosuchuser9196]

WELL........ TO START WITH......... It looks like Sonny's Cannon shoots blanks.

[@philcrescent8324]

aaaaargh my ears, my ears!! Make it stop! THIS IS REALLY BAD!