The superior and surprisingly flexible trumpeter Randy Sandke mostly emphasizes the mainstream swing side of himself on this highly enjoyable release. He teams up with Ken Peplowski (who sticks to tenor except for a bit of clarinet on "Muddy Water"), pianist Ray Kennedy, bassist John Goldsby, and drummer Terry Clarke for a set of mostly lesser-known standards and originals. Sandke's compositions tend to be based on earlier tunes ("Wildfire" is actually "Liza," "See You Later" is "Everybody Loves My Baby," etc.), putting new melodies to older chord changes. Overall, this is high-quality swing that both looks ahead toward bop and backwards toward 1920s jazz. Among the highlights are "Thanks a Million" (which has a dramatic statement by the trumpeter), "Muddy Water," "I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues," and "I Love Louis" (mostly based on "Shine"). Highly recommended. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.
Concord Jazz, CCD-4566, 1993
Recorded 4th & 8th
February, 1993 at Sear Sound Studio, New York City
Musicians:
Randy Sandke - Trumpet,
Flugelhorn (#9)
Ken Peplowski - Tenor Sax,
Clarinet (#5)
Ray Kennedy - Piano
John Goldsby - Bass
Terry Clarke - Drums
Tracks:
01. Wildfire {Randy Sandke}
(4:26)
02. Thanks A Million {Arthur
Johnston, Gus Kahn} (3:07)
03. Say It {Randy Sandke}
(4:45)
04. Dream Song {Randy Sandke}
(3:24)
05. Muddy Water {Harry
Richman, Jo Trent, Peter DeRose} (4:16)
06. With A Song In My Heart
{Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (4:48)
07. See You Later {Randy
Sandke} (4:54)
08. I Gotta Right To Sing The
Blues {Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler} (5:15)
09. Domino {Don Raye, Jacques
Plante, Louis Ferrari} (5:06)
10. I Hear Music {Burton
Lane, Frank Loesser} (3:06)
11. I Love Louis {Randy
Sandke} (4:04)
12. Lullaby For Karen {Randy
Sandke} (4:48)
13. Benny Goodman Postscript (0:12)
Total Time: 52:17
Credits:
Producer - Randy Sandke, Ken
Peplowski
Executive-Producer - Carl E.
Jefferson
Recording Engineer - David
Baker
Mastering Engineer - George
Horn
Art Direction - Kent Judkins
Photography - Ron Schwerin
Liner Notes - Chip Deffaa
