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Columbia’s compilation of vintage Rosemary Clooney gems comes with superb support.
Throughout her career, the jazz singer always had that kind of expertise surrounding her. Jazz
Singer starts off with the Duke Ellington Orchestra in an excerpt from Blue Rose. Clark
Terry, Harry Carney and Jimmy Hamilton rip off delightful solos to complement the buoyant singer.
Then, from Tenderly, Clooney sings a soothing ballad: one of her most welcomed
trademarks. The sound of her voice and the balance from supporting orchestras leads to a pleasant
memento. The Hi-Los provide interesting interaction, and later, the Ray Charles Singers offer subtle
vocal harmony. Michael Feinstein’s contemporary liner notes provide all the details and
circumstances.
With Benny Goodman, Clooney bubbles with enthusiasm as she trades off with the clarinetist.
The sounds are sweet and the mood is light. A more dramatic approach comes from the Paramount
film Red Garters, as Clooney sings “Bad News” with a poignant studio orchestra. Interpreting
show and film tunes from dramatic scenes was one of the singer’s strongest points, and her
experience compounded that heartfelt trait in her later years. The selections heard here date from
1951 to 1957. They feature Clooney at the top of her form and in different scenarios. With Urbie
Green and Benny Goodman on “Goodbye,” she’s introspective. After such a long career, Rosemary
Clooney left us a treasury of recorded memories. This select group of favorites proves delightful
throughout.
~ Jim Santella
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Track Listing: It Don’t Mean a Thing (If it Ain’t Got That Swing); I’ll Be Around; How About You; Blues in the Night;
Memories Of You; I’m Checkin’ Out, Goombye; What Is There to Say; The Lady is a Tramp; Bad
News; Hey Baby; It’s Bad for Me; A Touch of the Blues; Together; Learnin’ the Blues; Doncha Go
‘Way Mad; Sophisticated Lady; Come Rain or Come Shine; Goodbye.
Personnel: Rosemary Clooney- vocals; Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Dick Hyman, Stan Freeman, Paul T.
Smith- piano; Roland Bundock, Jimmy Woode, Aaron Bell, Phil Stephens, Ray Leatherwood, Frank
Carroll- bass; Milton Holland, Sam Woodyard, Jack Sperling, Bobby Donaldson, Nick Fatool, Alvin
Stoller, Terry Snyder- drums; Willie Cook, Ray Nance, Clark Terry, Cat Anderson, Frank Beach, Don
Fagerquist, Robert Fowler, Uan Rasey, Buck Clayton, Conrad Gozzo, Charles E. Griffard, Vito
Mangano, James Maxwell, James Milozzo, Melvin Solomon- trumpet; Quentin Jackson, Britt
Woodman, John Sanders, Francis Howard, Dick Nash, George Roberts, Paul Tanner, Urbie Green,
William Schaefer, Allan W. Thompson, John D’Agostino, Andrew Godlis, Lou McGarrity- trombone;
J.H. Washburne- tuba; Benny Goodman- clarinet; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope- alto
saxophone; Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves- tenor saxophone; Harry Carney- baritone
saxophone; Martin Berman, Ted Nash, Gene Cipriano, Mahlon Clark, Henry J. Beau, Julius Jacob,
Jules Kinsler, Don Lodge, Matty Matlock, Fred Stulce, Russell Banzer, Eddie Brown, John Fulton,
Bernard Kaufman, Hymie Shertzer- saxophone; Tony Rizzi, George Van Eps, Mundell Lowe,
Vincent Terri, Benjamin Mortell- guitar; Raoul Sims- cello; Sidney Brecher, Richard Dickler, Samuel
Carmell- viola; Harry Katzman, Milton Lomax, Gene Orloff, Julius Schachter, Milton Weiser- violin;
others.
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