Passion, emotion, and two of music's icons come together on the release Herb Alpert and Lani Hall (Live) - Anything Goes, which is a jazz infused look at a selection of American Standards and Brazilian Classics.

Herb Alpert and Lani Hall (Live) - Anything Goes                

Anything Goes: Fascinating Rhythm; Páraraio; The Trolley Song; That Old Black Magic; Dinorah/Morning; It's Only a Paper Moon; Let's Face the Music and Dance; Morning Coffee; I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face; Who Are You? (with Bill Cantos); Besame Mucho; Anything Goes; I've Got You Under My Skin; Laura   

Personnel: Herb Alpert: Trumpet, Vocals; Lani Hall: Vocals; Michael Shapiro: Drums, Percussion; Bill Cantos: Keyboards, Backing Vocals; Hussain Jiffry: Electric Bass

Herb Alpert and Lani Hall (Live) - Anything Goes was released on the Concord Jazz label, a division of Concord Music Group. Herb Alpert of Tijuana Brass fame, and Lani Hall, lead singer of Brasil ‘66, took only 30 years of marriage before they finally decided it was time to join forces on stage. The phrase "join forces" is an understatement as they use jazz as their genre of choice to showcase their enormous talents while covering American standards and a few Brazilian classics. In addition, this dynamic duo is the recipient of the 18^th Ella Award that is awarded by the Society of Singers in honor of the legendary Ella Fitzgerald.

The opening track, Fascinating Rhythm, starts off with a short duet with Herb and Lani before she takes center stage with her vocals that play off Herb's trumpet. A swaying melody is accompanied by a Latin rhythm beat creating a very catchy and refreshing song. They follow-up Fascinating Rhythm with the fast-paced Brazilian song Páraraio and its rapid fire lyrics that Lani handles to perfection. Herb is superb on the trumpet, Bill Cantos smoking on the keyboards, and the bass and rhythm line is a pure samba beat; the band is pushed as they try to keep up with Lani's quick lyrics.

Giving Lani a chance to catch her breath, the third track, The Trolley Song, is instrumental, and the band takes its lead from Herb's trumpet as each member has their turn to stretch their "legs" and do a solo. Lani covers the track That Old Black Magic in a different arrangement that emphasizes her enchanting vocals while the band slows down the tempo and melody to slowly reel in the audience.  

Moving seamlessly between English and Portuguese Lani covers the Brazilian ballad Dinorah/Morning and is accompanied by a band that takes its lead from Lani's pace and is there to complement her beautiful phrasing. It's Only a Paper Moon is an instrumental arrangement that has the band tossing the lead between instruments with each trying to out do the other and the result is a frolicking song.

The track Let's Face the Music and Dance shows a different side of Lani's vocals as she introduces us to her sultry and seductive side as she tempts the band into a sizzling accompaniment. Morning Coffee is an American standard that requires interplay with the audience to really make these fun lyrics work, and Lani has the audience engaged, involved, and sipping their morning coffee from her hands. Herb's vocals are apropos on the track I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face. After  30 years of marriage to his beautiful Lani this song is pure emotion as he sings to her, and the band accompanies his touching trumpet work; love reigns supreme on this track. The track Who Are You, that features Lani on vocals accompanied by Bill Cantos on backing vocals and keyboards, is a tender poignant song with enduring lyrics. 

The instrumental arrangement of Besame Mucho is a winning track, but even more so when presented by Herb's trumpet. The Cole Porter standard Anything Goes is covered in a way that only Lani can do as she lulls her audience into a musical comfort zone and takes them on an emotional ride. Keeping her spell on the audience Lani covers I've Got You Under My Skin; the release closes with the instrumental track Laura and sends the audience home satisfied and wondering, What took them so long to record together?          

Websites where you can procure Herb Alpert and Lani Hall - Live Anything Goes are Amazon, Concord Music Group, Best Buy, and Herb Alpert/Tijuana Brass.   

© June 2009. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com. All rights reserved.