Dinah Washington was one of those singers who - as Duke Ellington would have said - simply moved "beyond all categories". With her subtle and inventive performances of jazz standards, she was able to secure a place of honor in the jazz pantheon. At the same time, as the repertoire of this new compilation shows, she also knew how to captivate her audiences with powerful blues, R&B and rock'n'roll. While jazz critics sometimes despaired at her versatility and love of experimentation, audiences loved her all the more for it.