Jazz Singer Review

07/13/2005 7:50 AM, AMG


After finishing her period as one of the Clooney Sisters with Tony Pastor's orchestra, Rosemary Clooney became famous for her pop hits on the Columbia label in the early '50s. Although never really a jazz singer on a consistent basis, Clooney had a few opportunities to record in jazz settings in the 1950s, most notably an album with Duke Ellington's orchestra. This sampler has four of the numbers with Ellington, three songs with a Benny Goodman small group, a few selections from the combo album Tenderly, numbers from sets titled Ring Around Rosie, Red Garters, and On Stage, and a song apiece with the orchestras of Percy Faith, Paul Weston, and Nelson Riddle. The repertoire is of high quality, and Clooney fares quite well. In fact, these were her most jazz-oriented recordings until she signed with Concord in the late '70s. Highlights include "How About You," "I'm Checkin' Out, Goombye," "Hey Baby," "Doncha Go 'Way Mad," "Sophisticated Lady," and "Goodbye." ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide