Sunday 23 January 2022

The Exotica Queen

Born Beatrice Kanefsky to a wealthy and prominent Jewish family in Philadelphia, on her first forays into show business she adopted the name Bas Sheva (from the biblical "Bathsheba") in order not to embarrass her family. She began her career singing a mainly traditional Jewish repertoire, but her distinctive and powerful voice attracted attention from other sources.

So, when the legendary Yma Sumac was unavailable for his latest project, none other than bandleader and pioneer of the music that became known as "exotica" Les Baxter engaged Bas Sheva instead - and here, for your delectation, is the full album that was the result of that fateful collaboration:







Wow.

Sadly Miss Kanefsky/Sheva died very young at the age of 34, as a result of diabetic complications, while working as a cruise ship singer.

Bas Sheva (25th July 1925 – 11th February 1960)

10 comments:

  1. Beatrice Kanefsky just doesn't have the same ring as Bas Sheva.

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    Replies
    1. Hardly. Sounds more like a supporting character in Rhoda. Jx

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  2. Im wet. I love Yma Sumac, Les Baxter and Bas Sheva. And they all connect!

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    1. YAY! Jx

      PS we have FOUR albums by Yma Sumac in our collection...

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  3. Oh, youtube... not available in this country. :( Boo. Fascinating backstory. Hope you're enjoying your Sunday. Kizzes.

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    1. The album's on Spotify, if that helps: https://open.spotify.com/album/3RcgqYBvLCwyEB64UHz0CU

      Jx

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  4. W0w! We had some Yma Sumac at home, too.Come to think of it...I grew up with cover sleeves of Burl Ives (Mother'choice), Mantovani,Mozart, Strauss, Sinatra, Crosby (ack!) Coward and Porter, Novello and many others, all snuggling in the cabinet.

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    1. Yma Sumac must have come as a shock to the system after all that mellowness... Jx

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  5. Oh, Now you are talking 'Our kind of Music'
    I loves a bit of Les Baxter and his Orchestra add a bit of Beatrice Kanefsky and you are Lounge heaven.

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    Replies
    1. "Lounge Heaven" is s the best kind of Nirvana... Jx

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