Short-lived she may have been – just 39 at her death in 1963 - and much-married too (seven times!), Dinah Washington aka Ruth Lee Jones still found time to create a formidable discography. Retrospective’s recent A Centenary Tribute reviewed by Alyn Shipton in Jazzwise 302 covered many of her early recordings made in the company of jazz musicians where ‘her big, bluesy sound’ seemed to fit so well. And it was that alluring gospel-based sound and her inherent confidence that captivated a wider audience when she began to create a series of albums largely devoted to standard songs and Broadway specials for the Mercury and Roulette labels.

Initially, these sessions continued the jazz feeling with noted musicians among the sidemen and arrangements by Quincy Jones, keeping the jazz influence front and centre. Later when she worked with husband no 4. the tenorist Eddie Chamblee, there was sometimes more of an R&B feel, again conveyed with complete assurance by Dinah, who always claimed to be able to sing anything. Jasmine’s compilation covers 28 tracks culled from the second half of her career and carries the subtitle ’Hits and Hot Shots 1957-1962’ with Tony Rounce’s note highlighting such ballad triumphs as ‘Cry Me A River’ plus two of her collaborations with the smooth-voiced vocalist Brook Benton, the orchestrations now more lush and string-laden. Hugely influential in her time, it’s rewarding to hear Dinah’s commanding voice again, even as one slightly regrets her passage from jazz singer to popular songstress.