Azure
LP RCA Camden CAL-550
Bunny Berigan’s big band is not considered one of the best ones of that era, and I’ve always found their music a bit sad. Maybe it’s a reflection of the bandleader’s unhappy existence at the time. But they had their good moments, such as this one. It’s a composition by Duke Ellington, and Bunny’s trumpet is touching in all registers. As is often with arranger Joe Lippman, there is a lot of clarinet lead, which is very effective.