Nature Boy

構成数 : 1枚
合計収録時間 : 00:00:00
Personnel includes: Nat "King" Cole (vocals, piano); Stan Kenton; Les Baxter; Nelson Riddle; Billy May; June Christy; Coleman Hawkins; Johnny Hodges. This is a 50-track anthology of vocal and instrumental favorites by jazz-pop icon Nat "King" Cole. Whereas most compilations on ASV/Living Era present a straightforward look (though of a slight British slant) at the artist or era in focus, a volume on Nat King Cole can be allowed more latitude simply because of the dozens of volumes already on the shelves. Nature Boy deals with the years 1946-1952, a period when Cole was moving from trio leader to pop legend, thanks in large part to the success of the title track in 1947. The compilation reveals that the transition was by no means a one-way progression; Cole the crooner ("No Moon at All," "Mona Lisa," "Laura") could, and did, often give way to the Cole the audacious performer ("Nat Meets June," his Metronome All-Stars feature with June Christy; the brash, manic "Orange Colored Sky" with Stan Kenton's Orchestra; and the playful "Save the Bones for Henry Jones" with fellow mug Johnny Mercer). And Cole the jiving trio pianist was still in evidence as well, illustrated here by 1949's "Bop-Kick" and "Laugh! Cool Clown." Nature Boy can be a muddled listen, though, passing on many songs that a neophyte needs to hear but including far too many hits for those who want to hear another side of Cole. It serves best as an eccentric collection builder, useful to those who already know a bit about the most charming man in pop music, but want to learn more from an idiosyncratic selection of tracks. ~ John Bush
録音 : ステレオ (Studio)