Last Swing of the Century

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Ken Peplowski's tribute to Benny Goodman, Last Swing of the Century, will delight listeners who think of the great clarinetist and bandleader before they think of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy when someone mentions the word swing. Recorded live in Japan on the last night of a 15-concert tour in 1998, this is classic swing at its finest, with Peplowski and a 13-piece big band tearing through classic arrangements written for the Goodman Orchestra by greats like Fletcher Henderson and others. Peplowski succeeds in bringing this music to life, with each of these 16 tunes remaining faithful to the original versions but still allowing the soloists plenty of creative leeway to make this material their own. The top-caliber musicians (several of whom were members of Goodman's Orchestra at one time or another) do the formidable material justice. Highlights include Rickey Woodard's tenor sax solo on the hard-charging "King Porter Stomp" and Frank Vignola's astounding guitar playing on a duet performance of "China Boy" with Peplowski. But it's Peplowski, of course, with the biggest shoes to fill, and he responds to the challenge with vigor, sounding beautifully melodic on "Restless" and bursting with energy on "Don't Be That Way." --Ezra Gale

Tracks:

The Songs Of Jerome Kern: The Folks Who Live on the Hill
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: I'm Old Fashioned
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: The Way You Look Tonight
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: The Song Is You
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: All Through The Day
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: The Last Time I Saw Paris
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: A Fine Romance
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: Yesterdays
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: All The Things You Are
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: Bill
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: Long Ago And Far Away
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: Look For The Silver Lining
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man

Amazon.com

As Hammerstein writes in the opening song, "Many dames with lofty aims strive for lofty goals"--and Te Kanawa strives for successful crossover. Her beautiful singing exhibits impeccable diction and excellent phrasing; but "A Fine Romance" lacks anger and humor, "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" lacks a storyteller, and "All the Things You Are" lacks romanticism. However, happy songs like "All Through the Day," "Look for the Silver Lining," and "The Folks Who Live on the Hill," are successfully interpreted. Jonathan Tunick's orchestrations enhance Kern's beauty through his captivating use of obbligato instruments. A pleasant, if not wholly satisfactory, listening experience. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Customer Reviews:

kiri kern.......2007-03-29

Kiri is sensational on this CD. Jerome Kern music is stupendous and the arrangements superb. Three top esses.

Kiri sing Kern is a great experience.......2004-01-18

I love the way she sings Kern's songs. Though certainly not opera, Kern's songs benefit from an an operatic approach--not all of them, but certainly ones such Smoke gets in your Eyes, The song is you, All the things you are. I love Kern;s songs sung in many styles but Kiri's way is one of the best.

On the other hand, I did not like Kiri singing Berlin.

Lacks Splendor.......2002-09-01

Though I do enjoy Kiri's interpretation of most music, and this CD was decent, I did not find any piece particularly memorable.

The voice is undeniably beautiful, and Kiri has managed to keep her maturing voice sounding somewhat young, yet I find that I much prefer her rendition of "The Laughing Song" to that of "Smoke Gets in YOur Eyes."

If you love Kern, and couldn't care less who performs it, than purchase this CD. If you are a fan of Kiris', then perhaps it would be best to avoid this purchase...for it is not a shining star in her vast collection of CDs. All in all, it was a disappointment.