| Of course it helps
that Johnny Hartman’s voice can give Nat “King” Cole’s
a run for its money: his run through the album-opening “Blue
Skies” puts a swing into Irving Berlin that you’d never
have guessed was hidden inside of a song written in 1929. It doesn’t
hurt to have a band made of of sidemen whose hearts lie halfway in
between the big band impulse and the burgeoning new jazz groove then
invading any working musician’s consciousness from all sides.
There’re the tunes themselves, which are sweet beyond sweet.
But at bottom, if I’m honest, there’s a record that accomplishes
the essential function of pop music — to comfort and delight
— and refines it a little, for the specific purpose of encouraging
people to putting their feet up and knock back a drink or two. |
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