Search - Dick Mcdonough :: Dick Mcdonough & His Orchestra

Dick McDonough experience

JJA Kiefte | 07/31/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's old (1936-37) and campy, but it's new to me.
All selections are light, swinging, fun jazz of the
thirties. I especially enjoyed Midnight Blue with
Buddy Clark and the Goona Goo with Art Gentry."

Music Okay, production just so-so

JJA Kiefte | Tegelen, Nederland | 04/01/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Dick McDonough was one of the most respected guitarists in the trade, but his heavy drinking took its toll 1n 1938 when he was only in his early thirties; one more name added to those other geniuses who sadly died too early (Beiderbecke, Lang, Berigan, Zurke, Jenney, Berry etc.).

McDonough was in great demand as a session man and from about 1928 onwards his name keeps popping up all over the place. ARC offered him a recording contract and the first fruits are to be found on this disc (there is also a volume two, but at an outrageous price). Although the first 10 or so sides are full of promise, with amiable contributions by Bunny Berigan, Artie Shaw, Adrian Rollini, McDonough himself and the very musicianly singing of Buddy Clark (what a pity he was not employed more), but then there is a falling off in material and in execution, less room for solos and singers like Chick Bullock and Barry McKinley who are passable, but only just.

The remastering is questionable: sometimes there are split-second silences where producer Bill Hebden obviously tried to remove clicks or pops, various levels of noise reduction in one number, no discographical info and only very scant info on McDonough and the music.

Perhaps someone at HEP, Retrieval or Timeless could take the best McDonough sides and treat the music with the care and respect it deserves."