Jay Leonhart: Rodgers and Leonhart (2003)

C. Michael Bailey

Senior Contributor since 1997

...wants to know if Gene Harris is playing "Summertime" in Heaven...

Recent articles (1,709 total)

Published: February 13, 2003

This quirky little recording offers a freshly-performed collection of Richard Rodgers compositions presented in a springtime nouvelle façon. Bassist/vocalist Leonhart provides this recording with a beautifully fresh sense of humor and novel invention.

Multiple vocalists ply their respective wares on these Broadway gems. Notable tunes from the list of usual suspects include two from The Sound of Music. The show title and "Edelweiss" represent worthy additions to the American Canon. These performances on the whole have a generous personality and a wiseacre sense that occasionally becomes too much—for example, on "You Took Advantage of Me"—but even then, the performances are still compelling and effective. For the most part, these songs are performed in the style of pre- and early swing. This disc is as wholesome as the girl next door—as fresh, too.

Visit Sons of Sound Music .

Track Listing: Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin'; I Didn't Know What Time It Was; This Can't Be Love; It Might As Well Be Spring; This Nearly Was Mine; The Surrey With The Fringe On Top; The Sound Of Music; My Romance; Where Or When; Little Girl Blue; You Took Advantage Of Me; Blue Moon; Edelweiss.

Personnel: Jay Leonhart: bass, vocals; Ted Rosenthal: piano; Bob Sneider: guitar; Dave Mancini: drums; Michael Leonhart: trumpet; Jim Pugh: trombone; Andy Parsons: saxophones; Carolyn Leonhart: vocals; Donna Leonhart: vocals; Jodi Stevens: vocals.

Record Label: Sons of Sound
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream