Warren Plays Warren

The music of Harry Warren is often neglected compared to Gershwin, Arlen, Porter, and others. In the hands of master cornetist Warren Vache, it comes to life. Fifteen of the 16 tunes are Warren's, many very famous ("Nagasaki," "I Only Have Eyes for You," "September in the Rain," and "Jeepers Creepers"). Some are obscure and taken further, like the cool bossa treatment of "The Girlfriend of the Whirling Dervish" and the downtrodden take of "I Remember You From Somewhere." A devout swing-to-bopper (emphasis on the former), Vache has assembled a multidimensional crew of arranger/trumpeter Randy Sandke, second-generation pianist Kenny Drew, Jr., Aussie bassist Murray Wall, and the legendary hard bop drummer Jimmy Cobb. Even though they haven't, they really sound like they've been playing together for years — the two hornmen truly play together. Check out the rollicking "Nagasaki," "Lulu's Back in Town," and "42nd St." They also admiringly trade lines frequently, or step aside and let the other blow, or allow Drew to stretch out and dig in. Vache's feature where he plays a lot and sings in a flatted affectation on "I Only Have Eyes for You" or Sandke's brilliant solo on "Serenade in Blue" are individual instrumental highlights, while Sandke's "Blues X 2" and "Jeepers Creepers" show their more fun-loving side, and Drew cuts loose. Vache is one modern-day cornet player who can get around on his horn in any manner he chooses, producing smooth, lithe sounds, and Sandke is a great foil. If your main men include Louis Armstrong and Clifford Brown, Wild Bill Davison and Fats Navarro, this CD is going to be very difficult to resist. ~ Michael G. Nastos, Rovi