Customer Reviews

Autumn Nocturne

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This marvelous CD, which takes up where "Snowfall Vol.1" leaves off, consists of recordings Thornhill's band made between August 1941 and February 1942. With few exceptions, the selections feature the subtle, soothing sounds of this innovative big band. Some of the tunes (e.g.,"The Lamp of Memory") are obscure, while others ("Autumn Nocturne") are more familiar. Still others (such as "I Said No") are clever. But all sides are polished, both in arrangement and execution. (Glenn Miller fans will appreciate Claude's rendition of "Chattanooga Choo Choo".) In all, this one is well worth the price. (NOTE TO KEN BURNS: You should have mentioned Thornhill in "Jazz". After all, he was one of DUKE ELLINGTON's favorite composer-arrangers. Upon Thornhill's death, Ellington remarked, "The world will never know what it has lost in this beautiful man.") Why and how Thornhill has been ignored for so long is a mystery to me and other lovers of just plain good music.

I typically circle about 1/3 of the tracks on a Big Band CD's liner notes...but my copy of "Autumn Nocturne" now has 17 of the 24 tracks noted for pre-set programming! Thornehill has one of the best possible combinations of reeds, brass, and moderate rhythm-section I've heard. Not only was this frontman ahead of his time, but he seems to have recorded less secondrate/filler stuff than did most band-leaders, though the companion disc "Snowfall" is sort of leftovers by comparison.

Claude Thornhill, a guy with real finesse and a great touch on piano. His band performs with gorgeous harmonics and smooth dynamics. I ordered this CD to hear his "Autumn Nocturne" again - the unforgettable title tune. If you like subtle, "dreamy" music, this one's for you. This CD offers some of Thornhill's upbeat 1940s swing tunes too. The sound is well engineered. A good buy.