Name: The Wizard of Oz Suite
Brand: Capri Records
SKU: 264967
Price: 14.33 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

The Wizard of Oz Suite

Rating

Album: The Wizard of Oz Suite
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Munchkinland	More Info...
2)	If I Were King of the Forest	More Info...
3)	If I Only Had a Brain	More Info...
4)	We're Off to See the Wizard	More Info...
5)	Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead	More Info...
6)	In the Merry Old Land of Oz	More Info...
7)	Over the Rainbow	More Info...
8)	Perdido	More Info...
9)	St. James Infirmary	More Info...
10)	Lady Be Good	More Info...
11)	Ghost of a Chance	More Info...
12)	Woodchopper's Ball	More Info...
13)	I Like the Sunrise	More Info...

Album: The Wizard of Oz Suite
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Munchkinland	More Info...
2)	If I Were King of the Forest	More Info...
3)	If I Only Had a Brain	More Info...
4)	We're Off to See the Wizard	More Info...
5)	Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead	More Info...
6)	In the Merry Old Land of Oz	More Info...
7)	Over the Rainbow	More Info...
8)	Perdido	More Info...
9)	St. James Infirmary	More Info...
10)	Lady Be Good	More Info...
11)	Ghost of a Chance	More Info...
12)	Woodchopper's Ball	More Info...
13)	I Like the Sunrise	More Info...

Performer Notes

Personnel: Phil Wilson (trombone); Stephan Siez (guitar); Herb Geller (flute, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Thomas Gramatzki (clarinet, bass clarinet, baritone saxophone); Emil Wurster (alto saxophone); Christof Lauer, Danny Moss, Stephan VonDobrzynski, Harald Ende (tenor saxophone); Werner Roennfeldt (baritone saxophone); Bob Lanese, Manny Moch, Lennart Axelsson, Heinz Habermann, Paul Kubatsch (trumpet); Wolfgang Ahlers, Bubi Grossmann, Paddy Plato, Egon Christmann (trombone); Harry Grube, Walter Norris (piano); Wolfgang Schueter (xylophone); Ronnie Stephenson (drums).
Recording information: 05/23/1989-10/23/1989.
Veteran trombonist Phil Wilson arranged seven pieces from the film The Wizard of Oz and turned them into an engaging suite, accompanied by several great soloists and the NDR Big Band. "Over the Rainbow" is an obvious choice, since it has long since become a jazz standard; he gives it a loping treatment over a lush orchestral background. "Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead" receives a playful up-tempo arrangement featuring alto saxophonist Herb Geller, including a quick but recurring taste of Thelonious Monk's "Rhythm-A-Ning." His reworking of "If I Only Had a Brain" adds an interesting brass vamp underneath the soloists, while unaccompanied brass invite you to follow the yellow brick road during the opening of "We're Off to See the Wizard" in a delightful marchlike chart. Music lovers like Phil Wilson have known for a long time that these great songs aren't just for kids! Neither is Wilson a slouch with other standards. Brisk versions of "Perdido," "Oh, Lady Be Good," and "Woodchopper's Ball" are all exciting; while his mastery of ballads such as "I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You" and "I Like the Sunrise" is readily apparent. Highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden