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The Palomar Trio: The Song in Our Soul
ByAs many of the songs heard here are not played often these days, it is good to be reminded of their overall merit and the fact, as noted by the trio, that they deserve a fate better than history's dustbin. After all, they were once a part of life's daily soundtrack and, even though musical tastes have moved on, there is still room in the memory bank for songs as sunny and charming as these.
The trio play each of them with warmth and enthusiasm, as if to say, "yes, they may be old, but they still have a lot to offer." They set out to prove the point by taking a number of near-obsolete themes and breathing new life into them, starting with Waller and Alex Hill's "Keep a Song in Your Soul" and ending with a tune that has, in some measure, withstood the test of time, Mort Dixon and Harry Woods' "River, Stay 'Way from My Door."
Clarinetist and tenor saxophonist Dan Levinson is the trio's melodic center, drummer Kevin Dorn its rhythmic pulse, while pianist Mark Shane deftly straddles both spheres. Together, they reclaim and revitalize eleven Swing Era favorites that deserve to be ransomed and heard again. The trio is clearly up to the task, having been formed more than two decades ago and dedicated since then to refashioning admirable music from the Swing Era that has been sadly overlooked for many years.
Levinson divides his time between clarinet (six numbers) and tenor saxophone (five), Dorn between brushes and sticks. Shane, for his part, plays the sort of piano that is perfectly suitable for every tune. While swing may not be everyone's cup of tea, in this era of rock, pop, heavy metal and whatever else is the music of the day, the Palomar Trio put a fresh new shine on tunes that are entitled to more than musical obsolescence. For that alone, a word of thanks is due.
Track Listing
Keep a Song in Your Soul; Delta Bound; In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town; Wake Up! Chill’un, Wake Up!; El Rado Scuffle; Roses in December; It’s Been So Long; The Day You Came Along; Rompin’ in ’44; Sweetheart O’ Mine; River, Stay ‘Way from My Door.
Personnel
Album information
Title: The Song in Our Soul | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Turtle Bay Records
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About Mark Shane
Instrument: Piano and vocals
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