With her tangy voice and an appealing, childlike innocence, both of which set her a thousand miles apart from the jazz divas of her time, Blossom Dearie was an inspiration for whole generations of singers. She was a classically trained pianist, and she began her career in Paris thanks to Eddie Barclay, who had invited her to go to France. Then American impresario Norman Granz gave Blossom’s career a worldwide dimension when he signed her to a contract with his own Verve label. This 3CD set compiled by Olivier Julien highlights the fabulous material recorded by a rare and eternally elegant singer pianist. The music of Blossom Dearie is still as fresh and invigorating as a morning in the spring. Patrick FRÉMEAUX