Customer Reviews

By Request

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Alvino Rey led perhaps the finest big band ever. This CD does a marvelous job of demonstrating both his talent and that of his band members. The playing is tight, energetic and beautiful. Bumble Boogie (Flight of the Bumble Bee) has perhaps the most amazing guitar solo ever heard. And the last two tracks (Rockin' Chair and Nighty Night) feature the voices of the King Sisters, another greatly unappreciated group. The whole album gives me goosebumps. I reccomend it to anyone who has ever remotely appreciated any sort of good music.

Here is the best Big Band that ever was. Capitol and RCA have tons of matieral by Rey but refuse to release any of it. Rey had 3 hits in the top 10 at the same time around 1940 and still they ignore him! Grab this one..... Rockin Chair is from Standard Transcriptions where his best work was done!

I have been an Alvino Rey fan since I was a teenager back in the early '40s and still am. Even though the reviewer hated this album I enjoyed it very much. I still contact Mr. Rey by E-mail and also by phone-he is over 90 years old now and lives in Sandy, Utah. By the way, he has two CD's which he made a few years ago that are great. They are: Hawaiian guitar songs and another titled "When You're Smiling".

Remember April in Paris? Bumble Boogie by the master of the electric guitar? You'll hear these , The King Sisters.....and all of his best...

Except the very best..

I can't believe they would leave out My Reverie!!!

But you can get the second best rendition by Bea Wain in her album (aptly titled "My Reverie")

I only possess a couple of Rey Hindsight vinyl LPs, but to me they encapsulate what make the big band sound so attractive. Firstly, great arrangers like Billy May and Deane Kincaide, then excellent quality recordings, and finally, full-size brass and reed sections playing with precision and attack. This CD brings greater clarity, so emphasing these qualities. True, the steel pedal guitar takes some getting used to, and when over-featured, can become irritating, but, hey, that's a minor criticism. I just wish they would issue more of this great band's releases from the 1945/46 period...they are there in the vaults.

Alvino Rey and Stan Kenton are two truly fine big bands that I think you either love or hate. In my case hate would come to mind for both. I have (or should I say had) this CD and it was terrible! When Alvino starts going up and down on his guitar you want to run for the hills. His band is tight with lovely intonation, but its ruined by Mr.Rey and his screeching strings. After awhile it was banned from even being played in the house! I'm sorry to be a stick in the mud..but its truly awful. And one of my best friends in the whole world even played trumpet on the King Family show on TV. Sorry Alvino but I believe you are an acquired taste.