JUNE CHRISTY
Something Cool (Capitol Jazz)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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It was 1953 and Stan Kenton's vocalist had signed to Capitol as a solo artist. June Christy took Kenton's arranger (Pete Rugolo) and tenor saxophonist (Bob Cooper, who was also Christy's husband) and made a debut album that not only established her reputation as a solo act but launched the "cool vocal jazz" movement. Something Cool has managed to stay in print, in one form or another, ever since, and the jazz community has been the richer for it. It's a masterpiece and nothing less.

Rugolo's orchestra is flawless, dreamy, laying down a blanket of clouds for Christy's voice, at once the definition of cool and warmth, to drift lazily upon. The tempo changes in "I'll Take Romance," from full swinging orchestra to a slow, lone electric guitar, and Christy instinctively rides the tempos and moods, always knowing exactly what is needed, exactly when to bring it down a notch and when to charge. On straight forward numbers like "A Stranger Called The Blues," she just settles in and puts you under her spell.

What amazes me most, really, is that this album was the blueprint for so much music to come, and usually the blueprint is flawed and must be improved upon, whereas this might be the perfect example of the genre. Okay, I know that's a risky statement and it's subjective to boot, but find a flaw and state your case. If you're not too blissed out to remember you're looking for one.

This reissue has a special feature very much worth mentioning in that it gives you the album twice: once in its original mono form and once in its reissued stereo form. There's something to be said for each and it's fun to listen to a song in mono, then flip to the stereo version. June Christy made a lot of very good albums, but she launched her solo career with her best, unaware of what else she was launching.

© 2002 - DJ Johnson