About This Song
About "How I Wish... (Remastered 2001)" by Carmen McRae
A wistful, almost hesitant reading of Monk's balladry, 'How I Wish...' finds McRae at her most vulnerable. The lyric's longing is mirrored in her slight, breathy pauses—a portrait of desire held at arm's length. The band's sparse backing leaves her exposed, making the wish feel both intimate and impossibly distant.