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Thursday, April 15, 2021

Blue Strings And Rainbows - Luchi Dejesus

 

'Round Midnight

Blue Strings And Rainbows
Orchestras Directed By Luchi
Luchi Dejesus
Produced by Alan Douglas
Liner Notes by Barbara Long
United Artists Records MONAURAL UAL 3201
1963

From the back cover: Luchi Dejesus, born and raised in New York City, has been influenced by the Latin rhythms of his Puerto Rican background, the popular music that pervades the United States, his early training as a violinist, and his studies at the Dalcroze School Of Music and the American Theatre Wing, in New York City.

Immediately following his discharge from the Air Force in 1946, he turned from violin to piano and began his arranging career. Included were arrangements for Dinah Washington, Sallie Blair and Brook Benton, among other tasteful singers.

It is not unusual for this man to prefer a "Debussy feeling for mood, sometimes a Rachmaninoff feeling." Nor is is unusual for him to love the old Claude Thornhill orchestra with the beautiful, and later influential, Gil Evans arrangements.

Influenced by all types of music, loving all types, Luchi's long sojourn in Europe exposed him to many of the trends there. He was impressed by many of the jazz arrangements he heard, "particularly those in the Northern countries."

From the richness of his musical background he chose the 12 numbers to present in this album. "Easy enough to explain the choice. They're all favorites, the cream of the standards."

But Beautiful
That's Him Over There
In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
Polka Dots And Moonbeams
Imagination
I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
My Ship
Come To Me
'Round Midnight
Drifting
Lonely Bird
When Winter Comes

1 comment:

  1. fantastic lush strings album. I'd buy this if you ever consider selling

    ReplyDelete

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