While the arrangements and conceptions are credited chiefly to Dorough, a great deal of integrated creativity was brought to bear by quartet members Al Schackman (guitar), Ben Tucker (bass), and Bobby Thomas (drums).
Working at the time in (of all places) the Dickens Room in New York, they played through the music of 'Oliver!' each evening, weighing and shifting approaches, until arriving at the ideal tempo and mood for each piece. They get to the essence of the show and give the listener their true feelings of the score. Some of the songs seemed tailored for the addition of brass, so they called upon the colorful voices of Tyree Glenn and Clark Terry. The music offered amazing ground for jazz improvisations, and this recording is an unabashed rendition with an eye to keeping things varied, moving and interesting. This long-overdue reissue is sure to delight.
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