Using Anita Day as starting point -- but eschewing many of her scat-song histrionics in favor of pure tonal power and melancholic shading --
June Christy honed her singing skills with
Stan Kenton's band before going solo in the '50s.
Christy's relatively accessible vocal approach and blonde good looks eventually helped her gain success with such classic long players as
Something Cool and
The Misty Miss Christy. Less swinging than Something Cool,
The Misty Miss Christy mostly stays on auto-stroll with a wealth of subtle and sophisticated orchestral charts. The jazz-pop environs come courtesy of longtime arranger
Pete Rugolo and optimally frame the singer on highlights like "That's All," "I Didn't Know About You," and "Dearly Beloved." With West Coast-style brass and reed accents gliding atop the lush strings,
Christy also turns in fine renditions of
Monk's "Round Midnight" and
Russ Freeman's expressionistically torchy "The Wind." Balancing out the predominant autumnal lull,
Christy shows her swinging savvy on breezy gems like "Sing Something Simple," "There's No You," and "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening." Both an essential
Christy title and one of the best vocal albums from the '50s. ~ Stephen Cook