Big Band Magazine - Magazine - Page 11
The album opens with Leap Frog the band's theme song with an introduction
by Les Brown. We hit the ground running with a fast Latin original by one of
the trumpet section Wes Hensel. This is an extended workout for tenorist Pell.
We then have two more Latin based numbers, Caravan with claves ( possibly
played by Les) an oboe/cor anglais, then clarinet led reed section. It breaks
into swing with the trumpets providing powerful accents to solos by Pell and
the beautiful warm Bill Harris like tone of trombonist Sims. We end back in
mambo style with what sounds like a contra bass clarinet to the fore.
Next is a tune called Strange played in a rumba like style, were the patrons
dancing? Now we get our first solo from the beautifully fluid trumpet of
Fagerquist and we remain in Latin mode.
Now into a medium swing tempo we are introduced to the vocal styling of
Butch Stone who sings Baby I Need You including references to long
forgotten American celebrities. Once again Comstock effortlessly transports
us through.
Speak Low at medium up tempo brings Pell for 8 bars, then a lovely key
change that is perfect for Ray Sims to caress the beautiful melody, For the
first time we can really hear the distinct lead alto sound of Ronnie Lang.
With Street Of Dreams we enter ballad mode with some lovely trombone
and sax section solo passages plus flutes in the woodwinds and limpid
clarinet and trombone solos.
Brown's Little Jug is a delightful swinging version of the old chestnut.
It's not until the 11th track that we meet Jo Ann Greer and it's in the guise of
the old standard Back In Your Own Backyard. with what in the old days would
be called a vocal refrain, coming in on a key change after the band plays a
chorus including a lyrical Pell middle eight solo. She sounds uncannily like
Doris Day and fits the band sound perfectly.
Finally at track 12 we meet the beautiful, lyrical alto soloing of Ronnie Lang
(still with us at the age of 95 as I write) on Invitation .
