Rosemary Clooney Dedicated To Nelson CD

DEDICATED TO NELSON is an album of popular arrangements written for "The Rosemary Clooney Show" by Nelson Riddle.

DEDICATED TO NELSON was nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

During 1956-1957, the Rosemary Clooney television show featured the singer with arrangements provided by Nelson Riddle. Nearly four decades later, pianist/arranger John Oddo and Clooney listened to many hours of audio tapes from the show and picked 16 of Riddle's charts to revive. Since the music was no longer available on paper, it had to be transcribed off of the tapes and in many cases extended beyond the one or two original choruses; writers Eddie Karam and David Berger also assisted on the project. A 17-piece big band was utilized plus (on six of the 16 tunes) seven strings and a harp. Although liner note writer Gary Giddins raves about the music and claims that this project was unprecedented, bands reviving 1920s music transcribe off of records all of the time. Despite some short solos by trumpeter Warren Luening, Tommy Newsom on tenor, altoist Gary Foster. and trombonist Chauncey Welsh, the presence of a swinging rhythm section and the high-quality repertoire, most of the music (which sticks to the melodies) is closer to middle of the road pop than to jazz. Clooney sings in near-peak form throughout this labor of love, and the music is pleasing but the results are rather predictable. ~ Scott Yanow

Recorded at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California from September 27-30, 1995. Includes liner notes by Gary Giddins.

Personnel: Rosemary Clooney (vocals); John Oddo (conductor, piano); Gary Foster, Joe Soldo, Tommy Newsom, Vince Trombetta, Gene Cipriano (woodwinds); Warren Luening, George Graham, Rick Baptist, Larry Hall, Wayne Bergeron (trumpet); Chauncey Welsch, Charley Loper, Bill Eaton, George Roberts (trombone); Dennis Budimir (guitar); Gregg Field (drums); Joe Porcaro (percussion).

Personnel: Rosemary Clooney (vocals); Dennis Budimir (guitar); Marcia Dickstein (harp); Assa Drori, Bob Sanov, Gwen Heller, Karen Jones, Darius Campo (violin); Armen Ksadjikian, Christine Ermacoff (cello); Gene Cipriano (oboe, baritone saxophone); Gary Foster (reeds, woodwinds, alto saxophone); Tommy Newsom (reeds, tenor saxophone, trumpet); Joe Soldo (woodwinds, alto saxophone); Vince Trombetta (tenor saxophone); George Graham, Larry Hall , Rick Baptist, Wayne Bergeron (trumpet); Warren Luening (flugelhorn); George Roberts (bass trombone); John Oddo (piano); Joe Porcaro (xylophone); Gregg Field (drums).

Liner Note Author: Gary Giddins.

Recording information: Capitol Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA (09/27/1995-09/30/1995).Entertainment Weekly (2/9/96, p.55) - "An album pairing one of the most astute traditional pop vocalists alive with a big band swinging arrangements by the late giant Nelson Riddle is cause for joy..." - Rating: A-