Search - June Christy :: Complete Capitol Small Group Transcriptions

Early June

11/05/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"June Christy made this intimate recordings in the 'mid-40s, a good five years or so before she really began coming into her own as a persuasive and different kind of jazz singer. Her voice and style are only in the formation stage. Still, the album is pleasant and offers a lot of great standards."

* INTIMATE, STRAIGHT-AHEAD JAZZ WITH JUNE *

10/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is quite a nice disc, with lovely packaging and excellent sound quality. Having been transferred from the original sources using 24-bit technology, there is amazing clarity, presence, and depth to the music.June is featured here with a loose band of sidemen from Stan Kenton's orchestra known as The Kentones. The first thirteen tracks, recorded in December of 1945, feature trumpet, trombone, alto sax, piano, guitar, bass, and drums. The last 12 tracks, recorded July and August of 1946, feature a similar lineup, although alto sax is replaced by tenor. Musicians include Ray Wetzel on trumpet, Shelly Manne on drums, and Dave Barbour, who plays fine electric guitar throughout. Every instrumentalist featured is great, and the loose arrangements offer them frequent opportunities for concise improvisatory & written solos, as well as for general atmospheric embellishments. This intimate setting is also the perfect straight-ahead jazz environment for June to display her awesomely textured voice, nuanced phrasing, and inimitable way with a lyric. The tunes are an ideal mix of seductive, engaging ballads and bouncy up tempo swingers, often invoking Billie Holiday's early sides with Lester Young. One look at the track list reveals a most uncommon (and welcome) selection of top-drawer standards by the likes of Hammerstein & Kern, Dubin & Warren, Burke & Haggart, Kholer & Arlen, Khan, Webb, Goodman, Berlin, Gershwin, and Ellington. I highly recommend this 72 minute program of music to every fan (or potential fan) of June Christy, and to anyone who simply enjoys good jazz."