Customer Reviews

Tonight Showband # 2

5 star:		(5)
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3 star:		(1)
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The Tonight Show Vol. II CD is a wonderful compilation of swing music as only the incomparable Doc/Tonight Show band can do. You just hear the fun these guys had doing this CD. Containing a mixture of pep and smooth, this CD is worthy of anyone's collection who likes the Big Band sound.

Like so many people, I was greatly saddened to hear of the passing of the great Johnny Carson. In college, I bought the first Tonight Show Band album (well, I like all kinds of music, including jazz!! :)) and I was blown away by how great the band was. Wow. I never knew a follow-up album was released within a year.

Like the first album, this is swing music. However, for those that don't remember the Tonight Show, the band was made up of accomplished studio players who can really suuuuwwwwiiinnngggg. The band was a counterpoint in a way for the jazz generation, as was the NBC Orchestra of the 30's and 40's was for classical music. In fact, the point of the Tonight Show Orchestra was meant to be, I believe, an ironic comment on the sounds of the WWII generation.

At any rate, the Band on this show was very tight and the musicianship evident here and on the first album is outstanding.
The arrangements here are for the most part very good. Stand out tracks?...well, I believe the whole darn album is excellent. However, "In the Mood,' 'Georgia on My Mind,' 'April in Paris' 'Stardust' and 'Jumpin at the Woodside' are all great. Frankly, if you enjoy swing music and/jazz these albums are a great choice. Doc is one hell of a great trumpeter. Wow, he can cook. What else can you want? Great music and these musicians adds up to one great album.

In listening to this album, it isn't much of a stretch to say that the bands now such as the Late Show Orchestra with Paul Shaffer (GREAT rock studio musicians) and the current Tonight Show (actually, I don't really believe this band(and the current show) is all that great) are not as good. However, the TSO was just a great swing band at the height of their abilities. WOW. The Tonight Show was on TV with Carson for a reason - because the parts were better than we thought. Johnny (Sis-BOOM-Bah), Ed (Hi-oh) and Doc (I love these threads) we MISS you so much!

Well, time passes on, so do the next best thing -- Buy this album!!!

Doc Severinsen has one of the most beautiful sounds of anyone I've ever heard. This recording is one of the many times he proves this. On top of that, he's a great soloist and has great chops. His version of "In The Mood", arranged by Jeff Tyzik is great, full of energy and power. It's great to hear Doc, Conte Condoli and Snooky Young trade solos. Of course, Doc nails the double B-flat at the end. Hearing Doc play, you wouldn't realize his age. Tommy Newsome is also a great alto saxophone player, and shows a special personality of his own when he plays. The Johnny Carson influenced "Jersey Bounce" is a swingin' tune and the band's energy makes you forget that the arrangement is a bit corny. Doc contributes a nice solo. John Audino's lead playing is strong. "Georgia On My Mind" is a beautiful ballad by the man who composed "Stardust" and "The Nearness Of You", Hoagy Carmichael. Doc has recorded this tune separate times, and plays it with special feeling here. "Everyone Is Waiting For Sunrise" is a nice romp with Doc soloing and stealing the show. What a great ending. "Airmail Special" is a fast faced song with no Doc solo but Conte shines and someone hits a strong double D at the end (John Audino probably). "April In Paris" and "Take The 'A' Train" are both great jazz classics remade. "Do Nothin' Til You Hear From Me" is a nice, swingin' showcase for Tommy Newsome. "Hamp's Boogie Woogie" is a slightly corny arrangement but once again, wow! This band can swing! Snooky Young and Bruce Paulson have funky solos on that tune and Doc does his scream thing at the end. Ed Shaughnessy really keeps this band pumped throughout. This is a very versatile trumpet album, proving once again Doc Severinsen is one of the greatest trumpet players of all time.

The Tonight Show Band Vol. 2 is by far one of his very best! I'm not completely sure how you can say one is "best" over another of Doc's CD's and also "The Tonight Show Band"?

He is truly a superb musician and conductor! The Musicians that played in The Tonight Show Band were all very very professional musicians and they all new how to play "Together" to produce "That Sound" I am a trumpet player myself and know the importance and how crucial it is to listen to eath other, to play as well together as "The tonight Show Band"

This collection of swing and ballads is as good as it gets! It don't get much better, that's fo sho!!

The audio quality of this CD (as with most of Doc's CD's), is quite good and will do justice to your high-end audio system.) If big band is your thing, then this ought to be in your collection.

I have Doc's christmas album and just love it. This one didn't thrill me much. A lot depends on what kind of music you like and how you like it played. I don't like a lot of extra stuff thrown in. I like the melody to be pretty straightforward. It seemed to me that the band got so caught up in showing how innovative they could get that they sometimes left the song behind. I expected to hear a version of "Georgia on my mind" very much like it was played for the theme song of "Designing Women" but it really wasn't nearly as good. So, bottom line, listen to the samples of it before you buy, just to make sure it's your kind of music.