Customer Reviews

Love Is A Swingin' Thing

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4 star:		(1)
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When I first listened to this CD, I was reminded how my taste in music has evolved much in the same way a connoisseur might describe the evolution of wines. For like the development of a fine wine, Rob Vuono, Jr. is a senior when it comes to presenting refined subtleties in his arrangements. This is most obvious in the marvelous fermentation of "Love Is A Swingin' Thing". His nearly single-handed production of this CD shows tastes and qualities far beyond his years. In assessing his treatment of great old standards, the term "value-added" comes immediately to mind. These are tunes that "play themselves", as musicians tend to describe songs which need no embellishment. However, Rob has managed to add value to these songs with subtly recognizable touches of those who made them famous the first or second time around. I hear phrasing from Billy May, section licks from Count Basie and Sammy Nestico, Si Zentner, and many others, all tastefully blended into the texture of this harvest (again the wine metaphor), and expertly interpreted by this wonderful group of musicians from the Washington, D.C. area, too many to mention here. Buy the CD and read every name - they're great.

I include Sue Matthews and John Fisher in my definition of musician, also. Vocalist alone doesn't fully define these two people. Their voices are instruments as well. Their power and control are indicators of many years of not only practice and hard work, but of listening. Good writers are made from constant readers. Likewise, good vocalists are the product of many hours of listening, not only to other singers, but to the bands, the soloists, their phrasing and breath control. Consider scat singing, that improvisational method of presenting a different melody around the basic chord structure. That takes instrumental thinking and control. Move over, Steve and Edie. Sue and John have acquired this talent. And they obviously had a ball in front of this great band. And with such great arrangements!

"Almost Like Being in Love" is a marvelous way to begin a CD. Years ago, it must have been performed as a waltz. I can hear it in ¾ time for some reason. The way Rob hears it is something else again. With this song, he introduces the swing feel of the CD title and sets the tempo for a good time.

Listen to the one- to two-measure saxophone riffs behind Sue at the beginning of "I Never Knew". Rob really packed a lot of notes in a short period of time. Imagine the sax player seeing those riffs for the first time. "Hey, Rob, are you serious

Sammy Davis would have loved doing Rob's arrangement of "That Old Black Magic". I heard Sammy do this tune at Harrah's Lake Tahoe in the early Sixties, sat two tables away from the band. Rob's presentation brought back those same qualities of something special, with a few nice licks added.

One of the most difficult things for a musician to do is to maintain a tempo. Not a fast one, that's easy. But try a really slow one, such as Rob required for "Am I Blue". Takes a lot of concentration. You can hear the sax section precisely blending as one horn. That's professional. Check out the great sax solo in the middle chorus.

"More Than You Know" puts a touch of medium Latin tempo into the blend. Again, the section work, both sax's and trumpets, are so tight, they sound like one multi-faceted horn. I especially like the flute and plunger-muted trumpet duo in the first 16 bars of the second chorus.

"You Go to My Head", usually presented as a romantic ballad, has much greater impact at the tempo Rob chose. It also provides a vehicle for the band to show its stuff. The multiple turnarounds at the end of this song give me the feeling that everyone was having so much fun, they just didn't want to stop.

How can one have a bolero without a cowbell setting the tempo. That's how the band hears time with "Perdido". Rob's use of this classic Latin instrument is another indication of his mastery in selecting just the right ingredients.

"Lullabye of Birdland" is introduced with an ensemble treatment harking back to the days of the Cool Jazz era in the 50's, when musicians, frustrated from lack of work with the big bands after the 30's and 40's, got together in small groups, playing just the lead lines of each section. This allowed a 7-piece group to immediately sound very rehearsed and organized. Rob weaves this feeling in and out with the full band occasionally providing an additional flavor.

The trombone solo in the middle of "Old Devil Moon" defines playing "off the horn", hitting notes way up there that were not intended when the instrument was invented. But, put it in the hands of a great player, and look out. What was that last note, anyway?

"Blue Moon" is another study in slow tempo maintenance. Now imagine a small club, a tinkling piano, a smokey voice, late at night when your thinking about the one that got away, or is maybe about to walk in the front door - hopes and dreams. Muted trumpet solo, section work that rises out of the mist. Nice place to be. Thanks, Rob.

You know how some times, even when you don't know the language, you can hear phrases that you understand? Listen to the first two bars of "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" and you'll know what I mean. "Auld Lange Syne" is in there. Another tasty ingredient.

The words to "Baby It's Cold Outside" summed up my feeling about this CD: I knew it was about over, but I didn't want to leave this place, because the lack of music that was to follow was like having to go outside where it is not so pleasant. So I solved that problem, I played it again... And again...

I never get tired of fine wine. Or Rob Vuono's arrangements.

This album is a breath of fresh air. The arrangements and vocals are brilliant. This album not only swings but also demonstrates Rob's versatility in arranging ballads. Listen to the beautiful background of "Am I Blue" and "Blue Moon". The vocals of Sue Matthews and John Fisher mixed with Rob's arranging make this album a joy to listen to. I'm certainly looking forward to hearing more from these great musicians.

Mr. Vuono is a seasoned writer/arranger. He has put together some fine talent and some great tunes for a really well recorded CD. Nice job and look forward to other projects by Rob. Keep on Swingin.

John Fisher and Sue Matthews sound great... chck out "that old black magic" and "am I blue" Rob Vuono's arrangments breath new life into old standards.

This compilation of Rob Vuono's arrangements brings new life to these songs, and Sue Matthews vocals fit perfectly. It's wonderful to hear what this talented arranger can do! I especially enjoyed 'That Old Black Magic' and 'Old Devil Moon.' The sequence flowed very nicely. It's also good to see Rob performing under his own, real name. One suggestion: Rob himself should have performed vocals...and played his trumpet on at least a couple of the songs--it would have made this recording even better!

The Band Swings from the first cut. The Vocals are awesome. John Fisher sounds like the best of a combination of Frank Sinatra and Harry Connick Jr. The arrangements are full and very musically written. The recording was very well done also.

I really enjoyed it!