Rosemary Clooney is probably most well known for her 50s pop songs like “Come On-a My House.” But her pop hits don’t do Clooney justice. She is a very talented and diverse artist, and this compilation of her best jazz ballads proves just that. Rosemary focuses on many types of jazz, and experiments with many types of moods with her music. She goes the traditional jazz route with her big hit “Tenderly,” the blues route with her very deep and moving “Don’t Explain,” and the Vegas route with “Everything Happens To Me.”
Listening to her best (“I’ve Got A Crush On You”) makes me wonder about the state of today’s jazz. Is there a lack of new great jazz because there isn’t much talent nowadays or because there isn’t much interest? Despite Diana Krall and Norah Jones’ success, today’s jazz is nothing less than stagnant. Until the next generation of jazz artists arrive, listening to past great jazz singers like Rosemary Clooney will help you pass the time.