Recorded during two September 1964 sessions at Rudy Van Gelder's studio and produced by Bob Thiele, The Voice That Is! Was Johnny Hartman's third and final album for Impulse! Records, following his acclaimed collaboration with John Coltrane. Arranged by Bob Hammer, the album features Hartman with Hank Jones (piano), Richard Davis (bass), and Osie Johnson (drums), plus an octet enhanced by English horn, flute, marimba, and Latin percussion. The repertoire spans standards including "These Foolish Things" and "It Never Entered My Mind," alongside Bill Evans' "Waltz for Debby," "Sunrise, Sunset," and Henry Mancini's "A Slow Hot Wind," showcasing Hartman's rich baritone and elegant phrasing. Verve Acoustic Sounds Series titles are mastered from the original analog tapes by Matthew Lutthans, pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressings (QRP) and packaged in high-quality tip-on gatefold jackets.
