Janet Carroll
Lady Be Good
Arbors Records
www.arborsrecords.com

Bob Wilbur
Bob Wilbur Is Here!
Arbors Records
www.arborsrecords.com
By George W. Harris

Here are a couple new releases by the mainstream stalwarts Arbors Records. One is excellent, the other essential.

Vocalist Janet Carroll knows how to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em. She can deliver it straight down the line as on a lovely “Willow Weep For Me” or can play it to the hilt by doing some comic work on “The Lady Is A Tramp” or “Takin’ A Chance On Love” which even elicits a horse’s whinny by Warren Vache’s cornet. Ya gotta love the moxie! She also opens “Skylark” with a clever adaptation of the bridge, while giving a nice latin lilt to “What Is This Thing Called Love.” Backed by Vache, Harry Allen (who delivers the goods on “I Just Don’t Know”), Tony Tedesco/dr, James Chirillo/g, Mike Renzi/p and David Finck/b, Carroll has the timing and delivery of a well tuned vintage Mercedes. Made to last.

Bob Wilbur-How can you not love this guy? He’s been around long enough to have been Sidney Bechet’s pupil, and he still puts out great material. Perennially overlooked, he is still one of the best clarinet and soprano guys around. He made his fame back in the 70s with Soprano Summit (with Kenny Davern), and on this disc even ups the ante. He’s got FOUR, yes FOUR woodwinds that are mixed and matched in the front line with Antti Sarpila/cl-ss, Anne Barnhart/fl and Nik Payton/cl-ts-ss and it sounds just delicious. The rhythm team of Nicki Parrot/b, Jeff Barnhart/p, Bucky Pizzarelli/g and Ed Metz/dr hit it just right with a snazzy take of “Only The Lonely” (with some great alto and clarinet work) and “Bean” (ditto Payton’s tenor). The melding of the reeds on “Yes We Have No Bananas” and “Johnny Was There,” combined with flute on “Intermezzo”is like adding layer of various sauces on a hot fudge sundae. Butterscotch? Chocolate? Fudge? How thick do you want it? It’s all here, and it goes down nicely! Barnhardt’s flute on “Jewel Of The Cotswalds” is the cherry on top of this blissful release.