专辑简介

In ‘Lawrence At Large!’ the popular conductor-arranger-pianist has been given carte blanche to express his dynamic musical ideas with both large orchestra and small combo voicings. The result is a free-spirited session, in an unbuttoned-down-shirt mood, combining Elliot Lawrence’s cordial personality with interpretations of resolute vigor and polish. And, as you will discover, these unfettered qualities apply to the big-toned, hell-for-leather selections as well as those relaxed entries bathed in a soft, luminous background glow. The opening wailer, Did You Say Dixie? is a tongue-in-cheek satire of contrasting jazz styles – Dixieland, swing and bop – featuring the trumpet of Don Stratton and Gene Quill’s alto in leading roles. We Can’t Go On extends the deep-down swing kick with some electrifying trumpet work by Bernie Glow and Burt Collins and slam-bang stick work by Sol Gubin. For a pace changer, the Lawrence crew brings on Alto Lament, a blues-with-a-beat mood spinner starring Sam Marowitz on alto. Uptempo in a combo vein is the prevailing spirit of Groovin’ In The A.M., up next, as the septet cooks up a storm in the wee hours of the morning. Pebbles is one of those reflections-in-the-pool ballad reminiscers that stirs up some pleasant memories with its easy-flowing orchestral interpretation. Blue Cha-Cha, the side closer, is a highly melodic, rhythmically vibrant Latin rendition that pits muted trumpets against an indigo-tainted Gene Quill sax solo. The flip side finds Elliot and the boys on the warpath in a swinger dedicated to Sioux City, that recalls images of her vast Indian heritage. Then, a harmonic mantle of newly fallen leaves and golden mists is skillfully depicted in a mood piece teeming with the rich abundance of Autumn Time. The combo returns In A Cloud Of Dust, an aptly titled novelty number driven at a frantic pace by the solos of Mary Osborne’s guitar and the clarinet of Andy Fitz. Dancing The Shadow Waltz is a tableau of haunting refrains, renewing an enchanting evening when two sweethearts were lost in each other’s arms. The septet takes the spotlight again in We’ll Shine Tonight, a rapid swing romp which proves that a combo is only as great as its individual members. The side concludes with the orchestral stomp, Paradise Rock, a perfect ‘Lawrence At Large!’ finale, highlighted by the roaring saxes of Al Cohn and Gene Quill.