Tommy Dorsey – Big Bands: Tommy Dorsey

I often wonder if people read my reviews once I step outside of the mainstream, hopefully bringing to light musical ideas that are still inspiring the greats of today, hoping that with a bit of investigation, one can come to understand the true nature of music, the nature of sound, and the possibilities that exist as substantial building blocks. Dorsey is a legend, a man who died far to young ... and with his death in 1956, the genres of Big Band and Swing seemed to pass with him. Fortunately that’s not to say it’s been forgotten, because Swing and Big Band bend and embrace jazz, vocals, and instrumentation in such a way that when heard, will certainly conspire to set one’s toes to tapping, and a fundamental head-bopping that is nearly engrained in our DNA.

While you aren’t being treated to a greatest hits here, you are given the chance to embrace a tasteful collection of tunes recorded as half-speed masters, and in the original mono, where Dorsey and his band [with Frank Sinatra under contract] showcase both the hot and sweet styles with perfection, creating a more than cohesive grouping of songs that ebb and flow in a spectacular manner. There are more highlights than I care to mention on this two record boxed set, with historic liner notes and audiophile packaging:

“Song Of India” was one of the earliest examples of singing the classics. This version of the Rimsky-Korsakov composition features Dorsey’s stellar muted trombone, and a brilliant trumpet solo by Bunny Bergian that is itself a classic ...

“Too Romantic,” from the 1940 Crosby, Hope and Lamour film The Road To Singapore, came out of Frank Sinatra’s initial recording session with Dorsey in 1940 ... a wistful, low-keyed ballad, with solos by Tommy and clarinetist Johnny Mince
...

“”Boogie Woogie” is Dean Kincide’s classic arrangement of Clarence “Pine Top” Smith’s 1929 jazz original, and simmers with ease and clarity ...

while “Opus No. 1” is a prime example of the writing and arranging genius of Syl Oliver. Buddy Rich drives the band with taut rim-shots and Buddy DeFranco shines on his clarinet, like I’ve never heard before.

This is a relentless gem, where one classic is strung after another, treating your ears to a versatile smooth stylish collection that’s not to missed. And please, don’t go thinking you’re gonna get the same interpretation on compact disc, because you won’t ... there’s something about the nature of this music that calls for the connection made between the platter, the stylus, and the vinyl record.

Review by Jenell Kesler