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June Christy was one of elite coterie of singers during the post-war decade who readily spanned the big band, cool jazz, and sophisticated pop genres, becoming one of the most popular and admired female vocalists of the era, outshone only by the likes of Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee. Having sung with Boyd Raeburns band in the early 1940s, she took over from Anita O'Day with Stan Kentons ground-breaking orchestra in 1945, over the next five years was named by Down Beat magazine as the best female vocalist with a big band in 1946, 1947, 1948 and 1950. This great-value 49-track 2-CD set comprises a significant proportion of the studio and live recordings she made with Kentons orchestra through until 1950, by which time she had embarked on a successful solo career, and also includes some of the duet recordings she did with Kenton accompanying her on piano in 1955. It includes their 1945 No. 2 hit with Tampico along with the Top 10 hits It's Been A Long Long Time and Shoo Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy and five other Billboard chart entries. Its a substantial overview of her work with Stan Kenton, and a great showcase for her distinctive talent. REVIEWS “The first attempt to anthologise Christy’s days with Kenton and as such it's a must.” – Gerry Stonestreet (In Tune Issue 328) “The informative CD booklet contains a wealth of detailed information about each recording session… As the notes state: ‘This collection provides an insight into the early career of an artist whose talents and achievements have not received the attention that she merits’. Perhaps this set goes some way to redressing the balance in that respect.” – Alan Musson (The Jazz Rag Issue 156) “June Christy was, no doubt, a great singer who sang with great confidence and clarity as this collection consummately confirms.” (Just Jazz Issue 254) “The core of this collection is the five years Christy spent as Kenton's main vocalist from 1945-50, including the majority of her Billboard chart success and wounded off with some later (rather attractive) duets with Kenton at the piano.” – Alyn Shipton (Jazzwise Issue 244)
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