In the midst of her successful run of '50s solo discs, singer
June Christy teamed up with ex-boss
Stan Kenton for this fine collection of duet sides.
Kenton exercises unexpected restraint throughout, shading
Christy's dramatically cool delivery with snatches of Ellington color and chamber music formality. For her part,
Christy doesn't miss a step shifting from
Pete Rugolo's lushly provocative charts on the
Something Cool and
Misty Miss Christy sessions to this intimate setting. With her soaring tone and crisp phrasing, she manages to both dominate the proceedings and mesh nicely with
Kenton's sophisticated backing. The mood is autumnal and keeps with
Christy's many big band ballads: tenderness with a hint of the forlorn. Highlights include "Angel Eyes," "How Long Has This Been Going On," and "Come to the Party." Not the disc for the first-timers to get, but still a very solid collection for the faithful fan. ~ Stephen Cook