Search - June Christy, Jeri Southern :: Something latin / Something porter

Two superlative Capitol gems

Jim Andrews | Chicago, Illinois USA | 05/23/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The June Christy album was an attempt to move this remarkable jazz singer into the hip contemporary pop market. The arranger was Judy Garland-Peggy Lee-Joni James favorite Jack Marshall and his instrumental voicings and figures are jaunty and flavorful. As always with Christy, the song selection is venturesome and off-beat. But she sounds gravely and hoarse on the album. I saw her in concert with Kenton and the Four Freshmen at the same time the record was done. Her voice was light as a feather, nimble and alluring. I think something went awry in the production of the album and specifically a choice of the microphone for the vocals. Still, the album is worth having. Southern's Porter album is justly much-celebrated for the eclectic choice of songs, Billy May's nimble and highly imaginative arrangements, and the singer's totally charming, totally intelligent and totally musical interpretations of some quite challenging music. Beautifully recorded, too. A charmed twin bill for sure!"

Much better than somewhat

artanis65 | Washington, DC | 06/05/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This was June Christy's last album for Capitol records. When it came out in 1965, she was still a relatively young woman, but her voice had changed remarkably from late 1962, when she recorded "One Note Samba," also included on the CD. Her voice, while still appealing, is deeper and huskier than on her earlier recordings.



"Something Broadway/Something Latin" is a pop album, not a jazz album, but a good singer is a good singer,and Christy does a nice job with these tunes. As is usually the case with her albums, some of the best songs are quite obscure. Most of Ernie Freeman's Latin tinged arrangements are pretty good, and a few rise to greatness. There's a couple classic performances, including "Do I Hear A Waltz," in which Christy sounds giddy and gleeful as the string arrangement swells under her voice and "Tell Me More," with its lovely melody and seductive arrangement. Even at this late date, her voice grabs you.



I also enjoyed the Jeri Southern album of Cole Porter songs. Not all the Porter tunes are great songs, but she effectively interprets Porter's witty lyrics, and when listening, you realize how much care went into the rhymes in these songs. Billy May's arrangements are excellent.



Two very good albums, recommended for those who like vocal pop music.



"

Two great jazz ladies sing Broadway

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 04/02/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was initially drawn to this CD because of Jeri Southern's "Meets Cole Porter" album, but instead fell more heavily for June Christy's "Something Broadway, Something Latin"! Perhaps it's not so surprising though, because I recently reviewed Peggy Lee's 1960 "Latin ala Lee!" album which has much of the same vibe, and I was quite taken with that as well.



True, Christy's singing voice had significantly diminished by the time she recorded this album in 1965 (the glory days of "Something Cool", "Ballads for Night People", etc. were truly over); but I find her throaty vocals quite compelling and affecting. It adds a very sexy, playful tone to the album.



While most of the selections on June Christy's "Something Broadway, Something Latin" are upbeat showtunes, things take a much more sedate turn with Jeri Southern's album of Cole Porter pieces. Recorded in 1959, "Jeri Southern Meets Cole Porter" features a varied tunestack, with many--quite refreshingly--taken from Porter's less-recorded works. Southern's soft, caressing voice glides through some particularly lush Billy May orchestrations.



Two of the great jazz voices. Nice for the price. [DRG 8507]"