Although this CD was released under the co-leadership of
Bob Wilber and
Kenny Davern, in reality it was an augmented version of Soprano Reunion, an outgrowth of
Soprano Summit. Magic always seems to occur when
Wilber (heard on soprano and clarinet) and clarinetist
Davern team up, and that was certainly the case in this meeting with guitarist
Bucky Pizzarelli (also heard in top form), pianist
Dave Frishberg, bassist
Bob Haggart, and drummer
Ed Metz, Jr. There have been few hotter versions of such warhorses as "Cherry" and the unpromising "Sentimental Journey" as these.
Davern takes "I Want a Little Girl" as his feature (liberally quoting
Lester Young's famous recorded clarinet solo);
Wilber introduces his ballad "Dear Sidney"; and they romp together on "Who's Sorry Now," "The Sheik of Araby," "Sometimes I'm Happy," "I'm Confessin'," and "Arbors Stomp" (based on "Bye Bye Blues"). This is timeless music that is impossible not to enjoy. ~ Scott Yanow