Vocalist and trumpeter Bob Merrill gives an overdue tribute to Joe Bushkin, who was most known for his work as Tommy Dorsey’s pianist in the Swing Era’s heyday, as well as composing the classic “Oh! Look at Me Now.” That tune, which actually has the composer sitting in, is included here along with deft support by Lauence Hobgood/p, Howard Alden/g, Rossano Sportiello/p, John Colianni-Nicki Parrott/b-voc, Harry Allen/ts, Adreain Cunningham/as-c as well as some well placed special guests.
Some nostalgic comments by Frank Sinatra and Red Buttons bookend the music, which includes Eric Comstocks’ cozy voice to accompany Merrill’s horn on “Wise to Myself” while Kathryn Crosby, Shannon Day and Lisa Gary create an Andrews Sisters mood on the boogieing “Hot Time in the Town of Berlin.” Allen’s tenor is rich and warm on the Latin touched “Girl Wanted” and Bucky Pizzarelli strums delightfully during “Goin’ Back to Storyville,” which is enhanced by Wycliffe Gordon’s trombone work. Merrill himself is in great voice on the sensuous “Lovely Weather” and is hep to the jive with Gordon on “Boogie Woogie Hot Plate.” Yogi Berra is proven wrong on this session, as for once, nostalgia IS what it used to be!