Chicago

Night and Day

Chicago does a fine job, but everyone won't like it

Review Score:

(8/10)
This CD is not for everyone. These are contemporary, rock, r&B, and Latin (among others) re-arrangents of Big Band songs. Although it deserves at least a chance, true big-band fans will be divided on this one. Some will love it, some will think they butchered perfectly good songs. I loved it. I didn't like all the songs, such as "Chicago," "Goody Goody," "Blues in the Night," and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore." didn't care for "Take the A Train," and I did not like what they did with "In the Mood." But, dislikes aside, the rest is great.

"Chicago" didn't appeal to me at first, but it got better and better. Paul Shaffer's excellent piano work and Jade's soulful voices give a big boost to "Dream A Little Dream of Me." In the intro, Shaffer's fingers seem to be all over the keys at once. I did come to like the "Lion King"-ish re-working of "Night & Day" after some time, even though I hated it at first. "Moonlight Serenade" gets a lovely '80's ballad turn, with nice brass work. "Sophisticated Lady" is re-worked into a sexy R&B ballad, with an introduction that just pulls you right in. The singing is appropriately romantic, and the end, with its reprise of the introduction, is very gratifying. As a big fan of Latin jazz, I really loved "Caravan" and the biggest surprise here, the Latin arrangement of "Sing, Sing, Sing" with the Gipsy Kings. "Caravan" is in fine form here, with a standard but still infectious Latin phrase repeating under the lyrics and a harmon-muted trumpet playing the tune as it is sung. I especially enjoyed the instrumental break where all the instruments blare out the Latin phrase as a sort of fanfare, with the percussion beating away behind it. I found this part wonderfully reminiscent of the fanfare during the mambo in "West Side Story" where the Sharks flamenco-step across the gym floor and yell "Mambo!" I also found the short part near the end where all the instruments except percussion stop and it's just the vibes playing repeating the accompaniment a nice touch. "Sing, Sing, Sing," although one wouldn't think it, thrives with its Latin arrangement. you know you're in for something when you hear the guitar take over the opening "bum, bum-bum bum..." part. Like with "Caravan," my favorite part here was the instrumental break. Where in Goodman's arrangement the brass would slowly vamp in after the drum solo, here it's taken care of by the guitar with an intriguing effect. I enjoyed the part near the end when the horns do the stripper-music-sounding bit over the guys singing in Spanish.

This really is a good CD, and it should be given a listen by anyone who likes big-band. You never know; you may like it.

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