1968 · Album
The Sound of Silence
Recorded 1968 · Atlantic Records · Produced by Nesuhi Ertegun
Carmen McRae at Mid-Career Refinement
McRae's voice carries the weight of lived experience, measured and deliberate against restrained arrangements.
By 1968, Carmen McRae had already spent nearly two decades establishing herself as one of jazz's most intelligent singers. The Sound of Silence doesn't mark a turning point or a discovery—it's a record made by an artist working at full command of her instrument and taste. This is McRae doing what she'd learned to do well: choosing material carefully, singing with emotional precision, and trusting silence as much as sound.
The album's title reflects its philosophy. Rather than showcase or restate what McRae had already proven, the record moves inward. Shorty Rogers and Jimmy Jones arranged and conducted with restraint, letting McRae's phrasing carry the weight instead of surrounding her with elaborate orchestration. The approach suits her voice—direct, conversational, unwilling to perform emotion she doesn't mean. She's past the point of needing to prove anything; the singing here is confident enough to be almost austere.
The Sound of Silence sits comfortably in McRae's catalog rather than apart from it. It's not the album to start with if you're new to her—begin with recordings from the 1950s or early 1960s to hear her establish her voice. But for those already familiar, this 1968 session shows an artist still interested in deepening her craft, choosing accompaniment that cleared space for nuance rather than filling it.
Who's playing
Max Bennettbass
Joe Comfortbass
Bob Westbass
Norman Simmonselectric piano
Mike Deasyguitar
Tommy Tedescoguitar
Francois Vazguitar
Al Hendricksonguitar
James Hornsaxophone
Gene Ciprianosaxophone
John Lowesaxophone
Buddy Childerstrumpet
Jack Sheldontrumpet
Jimmy Zitotrumpet
Lew McCrearytrombone
Dick Nashtrombone
James Gordondrums
John Collinsdrums
Paul Humphreydrums
Emil Radocchiapercussion
Larry Bunkerpercussion
Herman Clebanoffviolin
Sam Freedviolin
Dave Frisinaviolin
Anatol Kaminskyviolin
Nathan Kaproffviolin
Bernard Kundellviolin
[unknown]strings
Vincent DeRosaFrench horn
