Sensation Jazz Band Music

First, I need to say that overall, this is a fine CD. Like "Precocious Percussion", another CD in Pickwick's "Lounge Sensations" set, all of the tracks are instrumental. However, some cuts are pure Musak. "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?" and "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" are the two worst offenders here, with the former being more Musaky than the latter. Both are okay, and at long last you may finally be able to put a name to the instantly recognizable "Cherry Pink" tune, but they come across as pure elevator music. There are perhaps two other cuts that run a distant third and fourth as far as Musak quality goes.

Regardless, the rest of the disc is great and Loungey. "Montoona Clipper" alone is worth the price of the CD, as are the jazzy takes on "Perry Mason" and "Goldfinger".

Of the four discs in Pickwick's set, I'd recommend "Lover's Midnight Redezvouz" and "Ring-a-Ding Swing" over "Precocious Percussion" and "Brash & Brassy". On the other hand, all four are a pretty good set from a non-Capitol, non-Ultra-Lounge outfit.

From the first track, you can tell that this offering in Pickwick's "Lounge Sensations" series is just right for those quiet, romantic moments in the bachelor pad.

Probably the two biggest names here are Mel Torme and the Norman Luboff Choir. However, I urge to to find yourself a copy of this disc, which is competently presented with a solid selection of classics for quiet swingers.

Excellent for retro mood setting, "Lovers Midnight Rendevous" offers up a good blend of vocal and instrumental versions of classic lounge hits. Besides Mel's classic "Prelude to a Kiss", there are also vintage versions of "I'm in the Mood for Love" "That's All", and "Tenderly". The opening cut will be the instantly recognizable instrumental "A Man and a Woman".

Press play on this platter, and you'll keep the martinis cool, and the fire both roaring and hot.

In an attempt to cash in on the last gasp of the Lounge Revival craze of the late 90's, and after the success of Capitol's "Ultra-Lounge" series, several other record companies released Lounge style collections. Pickwick has issued this particular one, a four disc series called "Lounge Sensations". This installment, "Precocious Percussion", focuses on stereophonic instrumental percussion numbers.

There are several familliar tunes here, even if the artists or titles are not. "The Poor People of Paris" will be instantly recognizable, as will "Baby, It's Cold Outside", and "If I Were a Bell". "Standing on the Corner", "O Sole Mio", and "Glow Worm" should also rattle the memory cells.

The performances are certainly competent, incorporating all kinds of percussive intrumentation (drums, bongos, bells, and just about anything else that you could make a beat with), and the disc is enjoyable to listen to. While certainly not up to the standards set by Capitol's "Ultra-Lounge" set, the CD is a keeper.

The other albums in the "Lounge Sensations" set include "Brash & Brassy", "Ring-a-Ding Swing", and "Lover's Midnight Rendezvouz". All are apparently no longer available or currently "in print". Should this change, or should a used copy of the discs become available, I would encourage you to at least check them out.

This is the third disc in Pickwick's four-disc "Lounge Sensations" series, and it's a pretty good one.

Like "Lover's Midnight Rendezvouz", it offers up an excellent sampling of tunes, though not all of the artists are instantly recognizable names. Mel Torme and Sammy Davis, Jr., are the headliners here, and Johnny Desmond is another known name.

Georgia Carr and Fran Warren are two vocalists also featured on the aforementioned disc, and both are solid performers that deserve another look. Warren currently has only two CDs of her music available, and Carr has none that I could find. Pity.

Dig this disc, and you won't be disappointed. Although it doesn't reach the height or scope of the Swanky Summit that is Capitol's "Ultra-Lounge" series, it deserves a spot on your shelf.

Thay didn't get near known like thay should of. I just heard of them a short time ago, and now that I been listnin' to them a little I'm goin' to try and get what thay put out. I'll bet thar was some good time's when this band was puting out at what ever club thay were at.
Len!

I am a big fan of the Lombardo sound. Owning more than 70 albums, I found this disc to be very interesting. It has some of their very first recordings. It is cool to hear a very different sound from Lombardo. The first tracks are almost jazz/hot. There are two cuts of Mississippi Mud that are worth the purchase price alone. As the disc goes on the Lombardo sound starts to take shape. The saxes get sweet, Carmen's singing, the drums disappear. Interesting how long it takes to calm down Lebert's trumpet playing. On some of the early sweet songs it sounds really good but a little out of place. The disc has good liner notes as well. A good disc recommended for the completest. The more casual fan may be turned off by the fact that it takes 3/4 of the disc to sound like Lombardo.

This CD of Guy Lombardo is a precious release no matter where you may stand musically.
Lombardos' music has oft times been referred to as "square" or "corny" but this release proves that Lombardo could be as "hot" as any jazz band of the day.
In point of fact these are Lombardos' earliest releases from 1924 through to 1928 on the Gennett and Columbia labels.Many of these recordings haven't seen the light of day since their debut.
The producers are David Lennick and Toronto,Canadas' own guitar star Jeff Healey! Knowing Healey only through his wonderful blues guitar playing I wasn't aware of his extensive knowledge of such early recordings as are presented here. In fact he informs us in his extensive liner notes that he used to listen to these recordings with his father when he was younger and developed an appreciation for the music which has stayed with him ever since.
The recordings themselves come from,among other sources,the producers themselves and the National Library of Canada.
The transfer and production of these historic works are done with precision and the end product is a joy to listen to.I doubt if these cuts ever sounded so good!
I would recommend these recordings to any one interested in jazz and its' early days and especially to all the countless Lombardo fans out there.
Enjoy!

How did they do it? The oldest recordings date back tot 1917, and they seem to have been, for almost 15 years, the very only acoustic recordings with every instrument audible at its best, INCLUDING the drums. Those cuts are amazing, not only for the musical craftmansip shown, but also for their TECHNICAL quality. And the liner notes are at the same level. Acoustically spoken, any listening tot a more recent record (within the 15 or even 20 following years) throws you back down...

Yip yip!