Destiny's Tots
is the name that guitarist/singer
Marty Grosz
gave to some of the freewheeling ensembles he put together during the 1980s and '90s (as opposed to
the Orphan Newsboys
, which is a set group). On this delightful set,
Grosz
is heard in three different settings: a trio with clarinetist
Dick Meldonian
and bassist
Greg Cohen
and two septets that feature either
Peter Ecklund
or
Randy Sandke
on trumpet,
Meldonian
or clarinetist/altoist
Ken Peplowski
and
Bob Pring
Joel Helleny
on trombone.
always puts on a good show, making the music of the 1920s and '30s sound both relevant and good-humored. Among the highlights of this 17-song program (13 of which the leader sings) are
"Stompy Jones,"
"Truckin'," "Dinner for One, Please, James," "The Curse of an Achin' Heart" and "When I Take My Sugar to Tea." ~ Scott Yanow