Search - Rosemary Clooney :: Do You Miss New York

Polished, professional, and great fun.

Mary Whipple | New England | 09/01/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Recorded in 1992, when she was in her mid-sixties, this is an album Rosemary Clooney fans will love. Her voice is much deeper than it was when she was younger, and there is sometimes a little quaver in the voice when she holds a note, but she more than compensates for these changes through her delivery and her diction, giving real meaning to the words of songs that are, by now, familiar. Choosing to "narrate" her songs, she also avoids the need to hold long notes, and since virtually all the songs here are swing songs, and not ballads, she can allow the finger-popping rhythm and tempo to dominate.



Several of the songs pay homage to early stars-"Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You," is a Nat King Cole song, as is "Route 66." "As Long as I Live," is Lena Horne's, and "May I Come In" is Blossom Dearie's. But here, they all belong to Rosie and her very talented band. Though Rosie begins each number, she yields to long solos by her musicians on virtually every track: Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar, David Finck on bass, Warren Vache on a soaring cornet, Scott Hamilton on tenor sax, and John Oddo on piano. The brushwork of Joe Cocuzzo on drums is a significant feature on nearly every track.



On "Route 66" Rosie cedes the limelight for almost the entire song, with sax and cornet alternating solos and then echoing each other, before the other musicians take their turns and Rosie "mops up." "It's Only a Paper Moon," introduces John Pizzarelli, Bucky's son, who duets with Rosie, a fascinating listening experience, since his timbre is so close to her own in the low range that it's sometimes hard to tell which one is singing. "I Get Along Without You Very Well" is a favorite, as Rosie has a dialogue with the cornet of Warren Vache. A sax solo by Scott Hamilton is another special feature of this song.



"We'll Be Together Again" is my favorite, with a lovely piano introduction by John Oddo, and a slow ballad tempo for Rosie at the outset. The pace picks up with a soaring cornet solo, soon joined by other instruments, as Rosie and her band compliment each other and give new meaning to the words. A consummate professional who knows when to shine and when to yield, Rosie has created a terrific album which is a whole-group effort. Mary Whipple"

Don?t Miss This One

James R. Mccall | Libertyville, IL USA | 11/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Listen to any of these songs, say the title track. Notice how well Rosemary handles the demands of the lyric, which tells a wry story, and keeps the music flowing. We know she can sing; what this album of mostly slow and medium-tempo songs demonstrates is that she can phrase, too. Really well.And the music is superb from the backup group, which includes Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar and John Oddo (who also did the instrumental arranging) on piano. These treatments are relaxed and lightly jazzy; sometimes it is just the singer and one or two instruments, but even when all (six!) instruments join in, the songs keep a sound as intimate as from the front table of a small club. This is music for Manhattan, not Las Vegas."

Miss Clooney is so gifted in her singing. You'll love it!

Mrs. Helen Swavely (catswave@evesta | Lakewood, Colorado | 11/06/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had the pleasure of seeing Rosemary Clooney in Boston about 10 years ago. She is timeless. Her singing and music style on this album and others is beyond compare. Enjoy her beautiful voice as well as her dear songs."