ProJazz.net

This is a somewhat odd record. Manny Albam arranged 11 selections for an orchestra (16 strings, six brass, two reeds, guitar, bass and drums) plus four (!) pianos: Dick Marx, Eddie Costa, Hank Jones and Johnny Costa. The arrangements (which have the pianos scored by Irving Joseph) are more classical and middle-of-the-road-oriented than they are jazz, looking toward the orchestral side of Gershwin although the selections are also all jazz standards. Each of the pianists get their features, with the others reduced to small roles, but it is the numbers where all four are heard from prominently that are the most interesting. This out-of-print LP is really a musical experiment that went nowhere, but the album is both quite musical and a historical curiosity (AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow).

Track listing:

0:00 Fascinatin’ Rhythm
3:08 Love Walked In
6:11 Clap Yo’ Hands
8:17 The Man I Love
11:23 Someone To Watch Over Me
14:34 Mine
17:11 Liza
19:25 Bess You Is My Woman
24:11 Our Love Is Here To Stay
27:36 Somebody Loves Me
31:11 Soon

Personnel:

• Manny Albam Orchestra
• Dick Marx – piano
• Eddie Costa – piano
• Hank Jones -piano
• John Costa – piano

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Label: Coral ‎– CRL 759102
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Gatefold
Country: US
Released: 1958