Allan Vache’: It Might As Well Be Swing
Arbors Records, ARCD 19461
Here’s a CD which should appeal to clarinet and swing enthusiasts. As the title suggests all ten songs are familiar swing tunes. And there’s a special surprise in that Allan Vache’ brings in his wife Vanessa and a third clarinetist, Erin Davis-Guiles, on a couple of numbers, Poor Butterfly and Air Mail Special.
For some who may not be familiar with Allan, he’s a member of a musical family. His father Warren Sr. was a bassist and a jazz journalist. His older brother Warren, Jr. is an active cornetist/trumpeter. He studied with David Dworkin of the Metropolitan Opera and also privately with late swing clarinetist Kenny Davern. After many years with the Jim Cullum Band—how many of us have loved the At the Riverwalk radio program on NPR—he settled in Orlando in the 1990s and performs there when not touring.
On this CD, except for the two numbers mentioned above, he performs as a quartet with pianist Mark McKee, bassist Charlie Silva and drummer Walt Hubbard.
All the numbers should be familiar to most jazz fan. I’ll enumerate them to further whet your musical appetite:
It Might As Well Be Spring
Time After Time
Cheek to Cheek
Do Nothin’ ‘til You Hear From Me
You Took Advantage of Me
Meditation
Out of Nowhere
There is No Greater Love
Thanks to Rachel Domber of Arbors Records for this wonderful recording, Allan’s fifth for this label.
Of Pensacola interest, Allan has performed for Jazz Pensacola along with a touring group which included trombonist Dan Barett and trumpeter Ed Polcer. This CD will be available in the Jazz Room of the West Florida Public Library for patron check-out.