Here’s someone that was under the radar as far as fame, but had a big imprint on the music scene. Leo Busch, who was also known as “Joe ‘Fingers’ Carr, was an erstwhile pianist, but made a living as arranger/conductor/composer for (mostly) Capitol Records, teaming with bands lead by Billy May, Nelson Riddle and Ray Conniff for starters. This 4 disc set features his work under various hats as he works with (take a deep breath) Lena Horne, Jo Stafford, Peggy Lee, Mel Torme, Kay Starr, Nat “King” Cole and Dean Martin, just for starters.
The music is uniformly swinging and bright, and all vocalists are in prime form. Kay Starr, always overlooked these days, is a pip on “Bonaparte’s Retreat” and Someday Sweet” while Mel Torme’ does a nice Velvet Fog with Peggy Lee on “Te Old Master Painter. Nat “King” Cole is dramatic on”The Song of Delilah” and Lena Horne is drop dead gorgeous on “Stormy Weather.”
Much of the set has Bush either leading an orchestra with some nice solos as on “11th Hour Medley” or performing as his alter ego Joe “Fingers” Carr as he dabbles on “Kitten on the Keys” and waxes eloquence on “Sophia.” He switches gears a bit and leads a “Swinging String Band” on a dynamic “The Peanut Vendor” and Louisville Lou” with some catchy kitsch with Dorothy Prine and the Four Sultans of Song on material like “Wait Till the Sun Shines Nellie,” “Daisy Belle” and “By the Light of the Silvery Moon.” This guy was a hoot!!!