The Clusone Trio (which is comprised of Michael Moore on clarinet, bass clarinet, and alto; cellist Ernst Reijseger; and percussionist Han Bennink) perform avant-garde music that even haters of free jazz will enjoy due to their crazy (yet accessible) humor. For this highly recommended CD, the trio interprets 19 Irving Berlin songs, turning them inside out yet usually showing respect for the original melodies. Their versions of such songs as "There's No Business Like Show Business,""What'll I Do,""A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody," and "White Christmas" are quite unique. This is a CD worth taking a chance on. - Scott Yanow
Tracks
01. Soft Lights and Sweet Music (Irvin Berlin)
02. There's No Buisness Like Show Business (Irvin Berlin)
03. The Song Is Ended (Irvin Berlin)
04. Anything I Can Do, I Can Do Better (Irvin Berlin)
05. For the Folks Back Home/Chick to Chick (Sean Bergin)
06. What'll I Do? (Irvin Berlin)
07. A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody (Irvin Berlin)
08. How Deep Is the Ocean? (Irvin Berlin)
09. Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor (Irvin Berlin/Emma Lazarus)
10. Marie (Irvin Berlin)
11. They Say It's Wonderful (Irvin Berlin)
12. Always (Irvin Berlin)
13. Cuckoo in the Clock (Walter Donaldson/Johnny Mercer)
14. Let's Face the Music and Dance (Irvin Berlin)
15. When I Lost You (Irvin Berlin)
16. I'm an Indian, Too (Irvin Berlin)
17. I Never Had a Chance (Irvin Berlin)
18. White Christmas (Irvin Berlin)
MICHAEL MOORE alto saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet, celeste, melodica
ERNST REIJSEGER cello
HAN BENNINK drums, celeste
Recorded September 2nd & 3rd, 1993 at Radio DRS Zürich
Hat Hut Records 6153 (Switzerland)