Mark Christian Miller (vcl); Josh Nelson (pno); Dave Robaire (bs); Sammy Miller (dms); Larry Koonse (gtr); Ron Stout (tpt); Bob Sheppard (bs clt); Billy Hulting (pno).
(Review by Lance).
In an age when so many of the review CDs I receive are alien to my conception of jazz and Rolling Stone magazine acknowledges Bob Dylan as the greatest songwriter of all time, this digital download [hard copy did gang aft a-gley] is better than an income tax rebate.
Irving Berlin didn't make Rolling Stone's top 100 but he got in here with a swinging version of Cheek to Cheek. Sam Cooke crept into the top 100 at number 86 and came in at [track number] 11 here - a superb version of Almost in Your Arms.
Miller is a new name to me but he's been round the block a few times in the course of which he's developed an appealing style. Think Mel Tormé or Dave Frishberg and you get an idea of where he's at. An association with the late Page Cavanaugh pointed him in the right direction - Miller started out with a Gilbert & Sullivan company (those two guys didn't make the top 100 either although Dolly Parton and Madonna did. Just goes to show that it ain't what you got - or maybe it is!) The association with Cavanaugh was such that when the pianist died Miller was asked to perform at a tribute concert.
An album that mixes the familiar with the not so well known [to me]. The latter category includes: Tomorrow is my Turn; Second Chance; Twilight World from Swing Out Sister and Henry Lee Summer's beautifully titled, Once April Fooled me.
The more familiar items include Artie Shaw's Moonray; Oh You Crazy Moon and Strange, an early hit of Nat King Cole.
The vocals are great but, with Nelson's piano, Stout's trumpet and the other guys in the mix, this is one album for just about every occasion - foreground, background, living room, bedroom or any room you care to mention - love it!
Lance.
1 comment :
Lance, your review made me laugh out loud. So much fun. Thanks a billion!
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