Globetrotting & Hawaii Audio CD – Import, September 11, 2007

Frank Chacksfield was one of the truly great musicians of big band and easy listening. He injects the great intangibles into his wonderful arrangements. Wonderful listening.

Themed albums with a hint of exotic, faraway places, was a Frank Chacksfield speciality, and the two albums featured on this CD, GLOBETROTTING/HAWAII are good examples. Most of these melodies are well known, arranged in Chacksfield's distinctive style, that includes lush string arrangements and percussion with elements of dance band and big band. GLOBETROTTING begins with TURKEY IN THE STRAW. This is great entertainment, as it goes through a number of distinct changes in tempo and orchestration (I think 5 or 6). Track 3, is a lovely arrangement of LA VIE EN ROSE, with some vey nice accordion playing. Track 4 UNDER MOSCOW SKIES, is at times atmospheric and moody, but builds to something resembling an energetic Cossack dance. TAKE ME BACK TO CAIRO, with it's opening for chimes or bells has a suitably exotic middle Eastern flavour. THE HAWAIIAN WAR CHANT, is a fun, fast, foot tapping big band style arrangement. More contrast for VALENCIA, the sultry intro for guitar and castanettes, builds through some rapid hand clapping, into a full orchestral carnival atmosphere. Track 9 is a medley that combines a little bit of oompha for the LIECHENSTEINER POLKA with the subtle rythms of CARNIVAL. Ahhh Hawaii. The sound of waves breaking on the beach, starts another arrangement of THE HAWAIIAN WAR CHANT. Next, a gorgeous, wistful melody, THE MAORI FARWELL SONG, with particularly tender playing for (possibly) cor Anglais. Drift away for RED SAILS IN THE SUNSET and to wake you out of your reverie, is a foot tapping Hawaiian classic ON THE BEACH AT WAIKIKI. Some soft pedal steel guitar and an easy swaying rythm for SWEET LEILANI. I don't think any album of Hawaiian music would be complete without Rodgers and Hammerstine's classic BALI HIGH, from South Pacific, or THE HAWAIIAN WEDDING SONG. Next is COCO NUT, a happy little number, with it's steady bass line trumpet and strings is rather in the style of the Bert Kaempfert Orchestra. MY LITTLE GRASS SHACK is great fun, the pedal steel guitar intro is normal enough, but the orchestra then plays this in a style that resembles a 1920's Charlston with a nice cheeky little ending. Ahhh....... drift away again for the beautiful MOON OF MANAKOORA. The sound of waves returns for ALOHA OE!, wich is unfortunately where we leave this varied and entertaining selection, but you can, as I have, play it many times more. Enjoy