An Evening with Dave Grusin

by Dave Grusin, The Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra

Overview

An Evening with Dave Grusin is essentially the soundtrack to the Blu-Ray DVD product, and an app for the iPad, both of which have loads more features. The composer, arranger, and pianist conducts the 75-piece Henry Mancini Orchestra in a live program of his own music -- tunes written for cinema -- as well as the works of composers Gershwin, Bernstein, and Mancini. The show was co-produced by Grusin's longstanding business associate and collaborator Larry Rosen and Phil Ramone. The personnel includes guest appearances by vocalists Patti Austin, Jon Secada, and Monica Mancini, and instrumentalists Gary Burton, Arturo Sandoval, Nestor Torres, and Sammy Figueroa. Ultimately it's the music that matters and Grusin is in fine form, playing piano and conducting this orchestra. A dramatic version of his "Fratelli Chase" (from the score of the film Goonies) opens the set and is quickly followed by a romantic, nostalgic version of the theme from On Golden Pond, juxtaposed quite jarringly in a medley with his "New Hampshite Hornpipe." Austin appears on "Makin' Whoopee" (which he didn't write but which appeared in The Fabulous Baker Boys, a film he scored. The program moves on with the tribute section of the evening as Grusin and orchestra perform a medley from Gershwin's Porgy & Bess, followed by a selection of Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim tunes from West Side Story. Burton's vibes appear on "Cool," and Secada and Austin duet on "Somewhere." Somewhere throws a curve here conducting and playing piano in the lengthy, near-12-minute "Suite" from the film The Milagro Beanfield War, before returning to West Side Story with "I Feel Pretty," containing a lovely flute solo by Torres. Mancini gets the final tribute with Monica singing a delightful "Moon River"; Burton returns to solo on the "Peter Gunn Theme." The entire show closes on an uptempo note with "Memphis Stomp," from the Grusin-scored film, The Firm. Fans of the artist will take great delight in the program, which stands on its own apart form the Blu-Ray and iPad app. Just over an hour in length, it is near perfectly sequenced, and filled with not only nostalgia but evidence of Grusin's musical sophistication, as well as his accessibility and lasting appeal. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	04/26/2011
Label:	Heads Up
UPC:	0888072319950

Tracks

1. Fratelli Chase
2. On Golden Pond/Hornpipe Medley
3. Intro
4. Makin' Whoopee
5. Porgy & Bess Medley
6. Cool
7. Somewhere
8. Suite from the Milagro Beanfield War
9. Intro
10. Maria
11. I Feel Pretty
12. Moon River
13. Peter Gunn
14. Memphis Stomp

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Dave Grusin   Primary Artist,Piano,Conductor
Jon Secada   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals,Soloist
Patti Austin   Primary Artist,Vocals,Soloist,Featured Artist
The Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra   Primary Artist
Chad Bernstein   Trombone
Nestor Torres   Flute,Soloist
Whan Kamnirdratana   Harp
Will Brubaker   Bassoon
Joshua Shepherd   Viola
Farah Zolghadr   Flute
Garrett Arrowood   Trombone
Harrison Bryant   Celli
Hui Hsien Hung   Celli
Pat Seymour   Saxophone
Gregg Field   Drums
David Butterfield   Viola
Arturo Sandoval   Trumpet
Monica Mancini   Vocals,Soloist
Gary Burton   Soloist,Vibraphone
Sammy Figueroa   Percussion
David Hartsman   Saxophone
Troy Roberts   Saxophone
Matt Vashlishan   Saxophone
Rodrigo Gallardo   Trumpet
Augie Haas   Trumpet
Joshua Lindsay   Bassoon
Adam Diderich   Violin
Daniel Susnjar   Drums
Josh Allen   Bass
Sam Petitti   Guitar
Daniel Andai   Violin
Mike Cordone   Trumpet
Ashley Garritson   Celli
Ryan Gibson   Viola
Aaron Ludwig   Celli
Abi Loutoo   Celli
Adrian Balahura   Viola
Al Nicoletti   Violin
Alex Appel   Percussion
Amy Fiorito   Flute
Andres Vera   Celli
April Liberty   Viola
Augustin Mas   Bass
Nika Reguero   Violin
Megan Knox   Clarinet
Monica Godbee   Celli
Nicole Nutting   Violin
Nora McDonnell   Bassoon
Paul Deemer   Trombone
Rachel Branzer   Clarinet
Rafael Ramirez   Viola
Robert Patrignani   Violin
Stan Spinola   Horn
Susan Smiddy   Violin
John Palowitch   Saxophone
Danielle Woolery   Clarinet
Jose Lacerda   Percussion
Dylan Farnsworth   Oboe,Horn (English)
Cassandra Rondinelli   Flute
Charlie Hardt   Violin
Chen Wen Su   Violin
Belinda Ho   Violin
Cliff Sutton   Percussion
Dana Weber   Horn
David Andai   Violin
Elaine Li   Violin
Jeff Kipperman   Bass
Yun Jung Jung   Violin
Cisco Dimas   Trumpet
Christine Echezabel   Celli
Brett Watkins   Violin
Casey Maltese   Horn
Jim Drayton   Oboe,Horn (English)
Luis Ramirez   Violin
Magdalena Luciani   Bass
Ross DeBardelaben   Violin
Jenny Shea   Violin
Jessica Yeh   Violin

Technical Credits

Phil Ramone   Mixing,Producer
Niels Kastor   Assistant Engineer
Jarrett Prichard   Assistant Engineer
Seth Presant   Mixing
Patti Austin   Composer
Frank Filipetti   Mixing
Larry Rosen   Producer,Liner Notes
Carl Griffin   Producer
Walter Donaldson   Composer
George Gershwin   Composer
Ira Gershwin   Composer
DuBose Heyward   Composer
John Burk   Executive Producer
Leonard Bernstein   Composer
Johnny Mercer   Composer
Jon Secada   Composer
Gus Kahn   Composer
Henry Mancini   Arranger,Composer
Dave Grusin   Arranger,Composer
Stephen Sondheim   Composer
Paul Blakemore   Mastering
Tom Scott   Arranger
Larissa Collins   Art Direction
Albert J. Roman   Package Design
Eric Schilling   Engineer
Daniel Azoulay   Photography
William Ramone   Assistant Engineer