Search - Tommy Dorsey :: Post-War Era

A Fresh Look at TD

ayer | Cleburne, TX United States | 01/16/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Ask most people or musicians about Tommy Dorsey, and you'll usually get an opinion regarding his musical conservatism. Understandable, since his biggest hits were typically not jazz-oriented. This CD proves that you can't judge a musician by sales receipts, however. In the mid to late 40's TD was faced with dwindling popularity, yet had the financial capital to staff an excellent band with musicians he respected along with the new ideas that they possesed. A few names like Charlie Shavers, Louis Bellson, Doc Severinson, Ray Wetzel, Walt Levinsky, and Buddy Rich ensure that the astute jazz listener will be surprised and satisfied. TD himself also demonstrates his musicality as a lead and solo trombonist, and his work wears well by any standard, on I Get a Kick Out of You, I'm in the Mood for Love, and The Song is You especially. The arrangements on this CD are primarily by Bill Finegan. The liner notes on this RCA CD are excellent, written by Loren Schoenberg, an excellent scholar and musician. The recordings are in chronological order, and are rather variable in quality, tending to improve with time. What emerges here in this collection is a musical gem - modern orchestrations without the bombast that often accompanied late 1940's bands. This CD demonstrates that TD is owed a significant musical debt by his support of modern music, rather than another recitation of his earlier (and substantial) efforts of the Swing Era. Even the CD cover is an illustration of TD in the late 40's. I recommend this CD strongly."