As noted in the brief liner notes, clarinetist
Rolf Kuhn utilizes the same instrumentation on this CD as the 1938
Benny Goodman big band (except for the lack of a rhythm guitar), but the orchestra (arranged by
Rob Pronk and Barry Ross) actually sounds much closer to
Count Basie's in the 1960s than to
Goodman's.
Kuhn draws his players from The NDR Big Band. Unfortunately, except for short spots (most notably on "Sister Sadie"), little is heard from his sidemen except in anonymous ensembles; altoist
Herb Geller pops up just twice while pianist
Fritz Pauer and trombonist
Joe Gallardo make stronger impressions.
Rolf Kuhn is a talented bop-oriented soloist and has several fine solos, but overall these swinging renditions of tunes such as "Sweet Georgia Brown," "Autumn Leaves" and "Satin Doll" are very safe, middle-of-the-road and without any real surprises. ~ Scott Yanow