Les DeMerle
is typical of many of the artists recording for
Origin
. He's a veteran drummer who's paid his dues, but probably has more of a regional following. In any case, he knows how to swing a band, mixing in standards and even singing a few bluesy vocals, though
Eddy Arnold
's
"You Don't Know Me"
isn't typical jazz fare. He thrills the crowd with his feverish solo in a romp through
"Caravan,"
then introduces his wife, vocalist
Bonnie Eisele
. Her pure approach, with just a touch of vibrato, is especially effective in ballads like
"Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?,"
though she dives full force into the breezy
"How High the Moon"
and scats up a storm as the band segues into
"Ornithology."
DeMerle
and
Eisele
share the vocals in a playful
"I Want You to Be My Baby"
and a hip rendition of
"Jumpin' with Symphony Sid."
Pianist
Mike Levine
and bassist
Ricky Ravelo
provide strong support throughout the disc. ~ Ken Dryden