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1999 · Album

Big Band Specials

↑ June Christy

Recorded 1962 · Capitol Records · Arrangers: Bill Holman, Shorty Rogers, Bob Cooper
Big Band Specials

June Christy Swings With the Big Band Arrangers

Christy's cool voice cuts through the full band sound with surprising intimacy and control.

Big Band Specials catches June Christy at a particular moment — still in command of her cool-jazz persona but working within the kind of orchestral setting that was starting to feel old-fashioned by 1962. What makes the album work is the arranging. Bill Holman, Shorty Rogers, and her husband Bob Cooper each brought different ideas about how to frame her voice, and the results are uneven but worth hearing.

The band itself is stacked. Mel Lewis anchors the rhythm section with Jimmy Rowles on piano and Joe Mondragon on bass — that core gives everything a forward motion even when the charts get lush. The horn section has real character too: Bud Shank and Jack Nimitz on saxophones, Conte Candoli and Al Porcino on trumpet, and a trombone section led by John Halliburton. It's a working big band, not a studio assembly, and you can hear the difference.

Christy's voice was built for restraint, and these arrangements mostly respect that. She doesn't disappear into the orchestration — instead she stays out front, letting the band breathe around her. The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings rated it 3.5 out of 4, which feels about right. It's a solid professional album from musicians doing well-crafted work, not a revelation, but if you want to hear Christy in a big band context with real arrangers behind her, this is the place to find it.

Who's playing
Joe Mondragonbass
Ken Shroyerbass trombone
Jimmy Rowlespiano
Bob Coopertenor saxophone
Jack Nimitzbaritone saxophone
Bill Perkinstenor saxophone
Bud Shankalto saxophone
Charlie Kennedyalto saxophone
Conte Candolitrumpet
Lee Katzmantrumpet
Al Porcinotrumpet
Ray Triscaritrumpet
John Halliburtontrombone
Lew McCrearytrombone
Dick Nashtrombone
Vern Frileytrombone
Mel Lewisdrums
Listen next
By June Christy
Something Cool 1954
Bob Cooper's own record
Blowin' Country 1998
Bob Cooper plays tenor saxophone here
More Vocal Jazz
This Time It's Love 1998
Kurt Elling
Recording Info
Track listing
1You Came a Long Way From St. Louis2:18
2Swingin' on Nothin'2:26
3Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby2:49
4Prelude to a Kiss3:56
5Skyliner3:04
6A Night in Tunisia2:53
7It Don't Mean a Thing1:46
8Frenesi2:23
9Stompin' at the Savoy2:32
10Goodbye3:07
11Time Was (Duerme)2:58
12Until (The Mole)2:48
Musicians
Further Reading
Read more

Where next?

More by June Christy
Something Cool 1954
June’s Got Rhythm 1958
This Time of Year 1961
The Misty Miss Christy 1956
All 25 albums →
The musicians on this record
Blowin' Country 1998
Bob Cooper
plays tenor saxophone here
Checkmate 1998
Jimmy Rowles
plays piano here
Their own records, close in time
More Vocal Jazz
This Time It's Love 1998
Kurt Elling
Feels Like Home 2004
Norah Jones
Live in Paris 2001
Diana Krall
Angelus 1993
Milton Nascimento
All 73 Vocal Jazz artists →

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