With a dream team of some of the best musicians, conductors, arrangers and producers in the industry, Ms. Knight wraps you warmly and closely with classic songs that pay tribute to legendary jazz ladies that she holds very dear to her heart.

Her delivery and feeling for each song is exquisite. She will torch you, blues you, swing you and delight you in only the way Gladys Knight knows how--from within her very depth and musical spirit.

It is not suprising that Gladys Knight could make the transition from the pop/soul diva status she has enjoyed during her career. She and the Pips have dazzled us with classic hits such as "Midnight Train to Georgia" and "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)." But as her old friend and jazz trumpeter, Lloyd Terry, urged her, "You should do the music we used to do! You have such a feel for it." Knight was a vocalist for Terry's jazz band in high school. He gave her wonderful music to do so: Ella, Sarah, Oscar Peterson, Cannonball Adderley and Dizzy Gillespie. About a year and a half ago after Terry's constant urging, Gladys Knight says that she finally said yes and began making some arrangements. Then when her longtime friend and former manager, Ron Weisner, began having conversations about doing an album called The Great Ladies of Song, the project took flight.

Since Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald heralded some of their finest work for the jazz label, Verve Music Group (also home to Sarah, Dinah and Nina), it would only seem fitting that Gladys follow in their footsteps under the same legendary label for this outing. The result: a passionate jazz album that is sure to become a classic. The only thing better would be a second excursion to this wonderful debut project. Without a doubt, a five star recording and a must-have for your collection.