Kelley Love and the Pandemonia Orchestra: Foolin

C. Michael Bailey

Senior Contributor since 1997

...wants to know if Gene Harris is playing "Summertime" in Heaven...

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Published: December 1, 1999

The Twilight Zone Imagine for a minute a big band. No, a really big band, comprised of a full rhythm and horn section smoothed out by a full complement of strings. Imagine further all original material and arrangements welling from the mindspring of a single musician with a singular vision. Kelley Love leads his Pandemonia Orchestra in a debut recording that is interesting at the very least. Submitted for your approval— an orchestra in the mold of Billy Mays, Henry Mancini, and Nelson Riddle playing more rhythmically complex original compositions and arrangements.

The sound of this orchestra is full bodied. It deftly navigates Love’s jaunty, expertly fractured rhythms providing a seamless, swinging collection. This bag of songs moves from the Latinesque to pure, pure swing. If the listener is looking for the music and sound that backed Sinatra and Bennett, this is it. The only difference may be a more pronounced jazz rhythm section and updated solos.

Track Listing: Foolin

Record Label: IMG Records
Style: Big Band