Dave Grusin’s 'An Evening with Dave Grusin'

Dave Grusin’s CD aptly entitled, “An Evening with Dave Grusin” includes a variety of tracks that encompass a bevy of different musical stylings such as Big Band, Jazz and Instrumental. Grusin’s piano work is superb and the female vocalist that’s present on some tracks really brings soul to each track.

The opening track titled “Fratelli Chase” begins with ominous drums and swift violin and flute playing. The track’s title is fitting since listeners could picture hearing this during the chase scene of a motion picture where the hero/heroine is making his/her’s great escape. The fierceness of the instruments combined with the speed of the track make for a very powerful melody.

The fourth track on the album “Makin’ Whoopee” is a song that was first made popular by Eddie Cantor in the 1928 musical Whoopee. On Grusin’s version, light, smooth piano starts the song as a female vocalist achingly churns out classic lines like, “Another bride, another groom. Another sunny honeymoon. Another season, another reason for makin’ whoopee…It’s really killin’ that he’s so willin’ to makin’ whoopee. Picture a little love nest…Think what you can bring…He’s so ambitious but don’t forget folks that’s what you get folks, for makin’ whoopee.” The female vocalist’s tone is cool yet a tad playful at times, which will make listeners really feel the sultry message of this song.

“Cool,” is the title of the sixth track on the album. It begins with bouncy piano play with faint drumming in the background. The notes go up and down the musical scale as the trumpet and tuba get into the game. Then, the Big Band sound erupts as the drums, trumpet and tuba become much more prevalent. The title of the track is again appropriate as this song could be the theme of a “cool cat” of a character in an old black and white movie.

The eleventh track on the album is an instrumental version of the classic song from the hit Broadway musical and later motion picture West Side Story. In Grusin’s rendition, piano initiates the track along with some feathery flute work. The track’s speed and flow are so cheery that they almost mimic the giddy movements of Natalie Wood, who sang this song in the 1961 motion picture.
The final track on “An Evening with Dave Grusin” is titled “Memphis Stomp.” Lively piano kicks off this track as the notes rise and fall possibly musically signifying a foot thumping to the ground. Some portions of the track are repeated but that doesn’t dissuade the overall happy feeling listeners will glean from this infectiously catchy track.

To sum up, Dave Grusin’s “An Evening with Dave Grusin” is a delightful mix of piano-laden tunes some mixed with that Big Band boom while others display calm, collected musical prowess.