Search - Doc Severinsen :: The Tonight Show Band, Vol. 2

Tonight Show Vol. II is a great way to spend an evening!

05/24/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Tonight Show Vol. II CD is a wonderful compilation of swing music as only the incomparable Doc/Tonight Show band can do. You just hear the fun these guys had doing this CD. Containing a mixture of pep and smooth, this CD is worthy of anyone's collection who likes the Big Band sound."

Great music from a great band!!

Narut Ujnat | San Diego, CA USA | 02/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like so many people, I was greatly saddened to hear of the passing of the great Johnny Carson. In college, I bought the first Tonight Show Band album (well, I like all kinds of music, including jazz!! :)) and I was blown away by how great the band was. Wow. I never knew a follow-up album was released within a year.



Like the first album, this is swing music. However, for those that don't remember the Tonight Show, the band was made up of accomplished studio players who can really suuuuwwwwiiinnngggg. The band was a counterpoint in a way for the jazz generation, as was the NBC Orchestra of the 30's and 40's was for classical music. In fact, the point of the Tonight Show Orchestra was meant to be, I believe, an ironic comment on the sounds of the WWII generation.



At any rate, the Band on this show was very tight and the musicianship evident here and on the first album is outstanding.

The arrangements here are for the most part very good. Stand out tracks?...well, I believe the whole darn album is excellent. However, "In the Mood,' 'Georgia on My Mind,' 'April in Paris' 'Stardust' and 'Jumpin at the Woodside' are all great. Frankly, if you enjoy swing music and/jazz these albums are a great choice. Doc is one hell of a great trumpeter. Wow, he can cook. What else can you want? Great music and these musicians adds up to one great album.



In listening to this album, it isn't much of a stretch to say that the bands now such as the Late Show Orchestra with Paul Shaffer (GREAT rock studio musicians) and the current Tonight Show (actually, I don't really believe this band(and the current show) is all that great) are not as good. However, the TSO was just a great swing band at the height of their abilities. WOW. The Tonight Show was on TV with Carson for a reason - because the parts were better than we thought. Johnny (Sis-BOOM-Bah), Ed (Hi-oh) and Doc (I love these threads) we MISS you so much!



Well, time passes on, so do the next best thing -- Buy this album!!!

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