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Marilyn Harris: Future Street
The album begins with "Dorothy Parker, based upon a poem written by the title character, told in swinging fashion, and it ends with a ballad highlight "Love Means Never Having to Say Goodbye." The intervening ten tracks offer a lot of laughs, insight and toe tapping. The title tune is treated to a little big band ambiance, with the horn riffs providing a lift. "Sunglasses In The Rain" is a duet with Mark Winkler that has a bouncy AOR-type delivery that is thematically like Donald Fagen's "Walk Between the Raindrops." Harry Connick Jr. could make this a Top 40 hit. A lilting bossa "My Dissipation" is given a tongue-in-cheek set of lyrics that belie the typical Rio lifestyle. "Express" is delivered on a very fast track, with help from vocalist and arranger Mark Wolfram and done a la Lambert Hendricks & Ross.
A large measure of the success of this project is the musicianship of the players gathered for this session. There are soloists featured on every track and solid ensemble work. Andy Martin's trombone, Bill Liston's baritone sax, the flugelhorn of Luening/Bargeron and Dan Higgins sax and flute are just some of the standouts. In his hip liner notes, Bob Dorough says it all without giving the listener any technical information on the tunes, and it is just perfect.
Track Listing
Dorothy Parker, Ain't Got Nothin' On You, Future Street, Sunglasses in the Rain, My Dissipation, In A Lonely Place, Express, Insomniac, Lost in the Stars, Don't Wanna Know, The Good Guys, Love Means Never Having to Say Goodbye.
Personnel
Marilyn Harris
pianoAggregate Personnel: Marilyn Harris,vocals and piano; Dave Carpenter,bass; Bob Leatherbarrow, drums, vibraphone; Dan Higgins, Pete Christlieb, Bill Liston, reeds; Warren Luening, Wayne Bargeron,flugelhorn; Andy Martin,trombone; Mark Winkler,vocals(Sunglasses in the Rain); Mark Wolfram,vocals(Express).
Album information
Title: Future Street | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: Unknown label