"To The Ladies Of Cool" CD

"…she authentically recreates a lost genre of female jazz singing…" - Ralph A. Miriello, Jazz Journalist, Huffington Post

"To The Ladies of Cool"™ is a contemporary exploration of the West Coast School of Cool that celebrates the artistry of Anita O'Day, June Christy, Julie London and Chris Connor and the relationships they had with the composers and arrangers that defined West Coast Cool.

Kathy Kosins – "To The Ladies of Cool" Liner Notes - by Will Friedwald:

There's something to be said for "blind" listening; when I first played the advance tracks for this album – bereft of artwork or even a track list – I was only conscious that here was a marvelous collection of ten brilliantly-chosen songs, exceedingly well sung, arranged, and played. It wasn't until sometime later that I realized the songs were very specifically chosen for a distinct program. Still later, when I spoke again to Kathy, she emphasized repeatedly that this wasn't a "tribute" album (and, even less, a set of imitations).

Jazz Master Johnny Mandel & Kathy Kosins

She needn't have worried – Kathy is such a distinct stylist that no one could possibly accuse her of imitating anyone. A "tribute" collection to Chris Connor, Anita O'Day, June Christy, and Julie London would, by definition, be expected to include their signature songs and hits (respectively, that's "All About Ronnie,""Let Me Off Uptown," "Something Cool," and "Cry Me a River"). But Kathy has done nothing of the sort. She chose her words well when she described the album as a "toast" – it's an acknowledgement of the skills that these four ladies showed in picking songs, a tip of the hat, a bouquet of roses sent by messenger. (In fact, she's probably the only contemporary singer to do "Learnin' the Blues" in reference to Julie London – rather than Frank Sinatra – even though it's a rare song that was recorded both by London and her husband-producer Bobby Troup. Where London's version was silky and breathy, Kathy's is more directly blue – she sings as if she's already learned, to quote a London album title, about the blues. Read More

"Simply put....Kathy Kosins is a singer's singer. With the backing of a wonderful group....she has taken these songs and transformed them into compelling new musical short stories. From an uptempo swinger to a slow sultry ballad...Kathy's tribute to these legendary ladies is tasteful, sophisticated and as good as it gets from the first note to the last. You want a great listening experience....look no further than Kathy Kosins...." Eric Cohen, WAER