Customer Reviews

Pardon My Doo-Wah / Hot N Hearty

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Thank God, at least these two albums by Neal Hefti are now available. Hefti's arrangements and compositions have always possessed a unique combination of features; they all swing in a superior manner,they are bouncy and jovial, exquisite in taste, and occasuionally wistful. His arrangements for the Basie band reach a standard of excellence unsurpassed to this day. But there is one composition that had captured the audiences across the world for almost fifty years now. The Voice of America jazz program hosted by the DJ of all times the late Willis Conover was a two part smorgasbord - Music USA Part One, and the Voice of America Jazz Hour. Part one was essentially big bands of the swing era and more modern orchestras such as Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Pete Rugolo, Gil Evans, etc. Both Music USA part one and The Jazz Hour had introductory musical themes. And by serendipity Conover had chosen Coral Reef by Neal Hefti for Part One, while Strayhorn's Take The A Train by the Duke Ellington band was the theme for the Jazz Hour. I must have listened to Hefti's Coral Reef a million times but will listen to it anytime anywhere again, there is a mystical, transcendental quality about it that defies explanation. Unfortunately, I failed in my search for the recordings of the Neal Hefti big band of the fifties on which the original version of The Coral Reef was performed. All of the sidemen on these two albums are immediately recognizable names for their ensemble performance and solo improvizational work. Two of them, Joe Wilder and Phil Woods were members of the Benny Goodman band on their historic mission to Moscow in summer of 1962.

Anyone who likes the music of the 30's/50's will enjoy this CD.The Hefty Singers add something that makes Hefti's music more appealing.