Something Cool
Artist: June Christy
Genre: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1954
Grade: A-
From singing avant-garde swing in Stan Kenton’s orchestra, to capitalizing on sultry Peggy Lee-style lullabies, June Christy was always well-suited for the spotlight. “Something Cool” and “Lonely House” have an aura of mystery — subtly atonal key changes from the orchestra — that separate her from her more pop-oriented peers. This is an album that has aged like fine wine, highlighted by idiosyncratic arrangements and a dynamic vocal performance.
Chet Baker Sings
Artist: Chet Baker
Genre: Cool Jazz
Year: 1954
Grade: A-
Chet Baker’s got a little rock’n’roll in his voice, somewhere between Johnnie Ray and Brian Wilson. But definitely not a Sinatra, to name a contemporary. These arrangements are pure West Coast jazz, making him neither a crooner nor a swinger. Though “My Buddy” makes me wonder…
