The team of Alan Lerner and Frederick Loewe wrote songs for some of the most enduring musicals of all time, including Brigadoon, My Fair Lady, Camelot and Gigi. Here are a pair of albums that interpret their tunes, including big hits and obscurities. It’s fun to compare and contrast the renditions even though both Peplowski and Cunningham are know for their clarinet and tenor sax prowess.
Cunningham mixes and matches with Fred Hersch/p, Eric McPherson/dr, John Hebert/b, Wycliffe Gordon/tb and Randy Brecker/tp for as he plays a variety of woodwinds. The team bounces well to “Just You Wait” and sways to a pretty “I Could Have Danced All Night.” The lesser known “I Was Born Under A Wand’rin Star” is given a glowing rendition by the leader, while “If Ever I Would Leave You” has Hersch in rich form. Unprentious and happily bouncing.
Clarinetist Ken Peplowski does some jazz sonatas with nonagenarian pianist Dick Hyman that mix improvisation and communication. Hyman is quite modern sounding on his read of “Gigi” while the two are like long time partners during “I Could Have Danced All Night.” Peplowski’s woody and rich tone is a warm breeze on “Waitin’ For My Dearie” and “I Talk To The Trees.” The gents give an impressionistic collection of strokes for “If Ever I Would Leave You” and “You Haven’t Changed At All” while sounding sublime for “Thank Heavens For Little Girls.” Coquettish conversations.