While one finds the clarinet less often in the new millennium, than say, the tenor sax, it no longer seems in danger of becoming extinct, thanks to practitioners like
Buddy DeFranco. From "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise," to the closing intensity of
Charlie Parker's "Scrapple From the Apple,"
DeFranco, guitarist
John Pizzarelli, bassist Martin Pizzarelli, pianist
Ray Kennedy, and drummer
Butch Miles show that even though the clarinet may be rooted in jazz past, it's far from old-fashioned. The set list includes lots of standards -- "Dancing in the Dark," "Poor Butterfly," and "Gone With the Wind" -- and two super upbeat pieces by
DeFranco -- "I Lost the Blues," and the title cut. Lengthy cuts like "East of the Sun (And West of the Moon)" allow the clarinet, guitar, and piano plenty of solo time, while bassist Martin Pizzarelli and drummer
Miles keep this outfit in a steady groove. The album also includes two nice vocals by
John Pizzarelli on "Prisoner of Love" and "What Is This Thing Called Love?" It's easy to forget that clarinet practitioners like
Tony Scott and
DeFranco took the clarinet far beyond the swing familiarized by
Benny Goodman and others.
Cookin' the Books, however, will serve to freshen the memory in the most enjoyable way. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.