TV Review : Dearie Blossoms on ‘Jazz Counterpoint’

Billy Taylor’s “Jazz Counterpoint” series on Bravo continues Saturday with a half hour at 4 p.m. (repeats Wednesday at 6:30 and 11:30 p.m.) dedicated to the singer and pianist Blossom Dearie.

Long a fixture on the New York scene, Dearie is best known for the curiously high pitched, little-girl quality of her voice. The sound, though utterly at odds with her mature appearance, brings a gossamer charm to much of her work. Her self-accompaniment is polished and appropriate, though here and there, as in “Everything I’ve Got Belongs to You,” Taylor joins in to provide a well meshed two piano blend.

Taylor chats with Dearie fall below his normal standard. Instead of raining compliments on her he might have asked who wrote the lyrics to Dearie’s melody for the song “I’m Hip.” Since the words brought this piece what success it has enjoyed, the failure to discuss Dave Frishberg, who wrote them, is conspicuous.

There is a pleasant Ellington interlude, with Taylor playing “In a Sentimental Mood” and Dearie singing and playing “Sophisticated Lady.” The final song is a delightful waltz by Dearie, “After Me,” for which she does credit her lyricist, Jack Segal. Taped in 1985, this rerun still makes for agreeable viewing and listening.