Perennial charm

Press, 23 September 1987, Page 15

Perennial charm

GLEN MILLER: Nostalgia Series. MUSIC WORLD CASSETTE GE 144.

Oh for a recording of Glenn Miller that doesn’t contain “In the Mood” — even the best imitators all feel obliged to trundle out the overworked standard. It’s here again, though, with some fine singing from Ray Eberle (not listed), and genuinely old sound.

In all fairness, the recording company has chosen a fine, off-the-beaten-track programme apart from the one mentioned — numbers such as “Tap Till Reveille,” “Indian Summer” and “Careless,” some fine, smoking solos from the tenors of Tex Beneke and Al Klinke, and brass phrases that deserve hearing.

Purists were inclined to denigrate Miller for his lack of true jazz content, but there are many moments here which go beyond the lightweight level and the rest is at least very pleasant listening.

PAUL AND COLLEEN TRENWITH: “Now to the King” KIWI PACIFIC LP SLC-191. “Fresh from the Country” CASSETTE TCLACF-141. (1978).

Straight from the heart, the Trenwiths expound their special brand of magic in two closely related fields — country and gospel. As far as the musicians are concerned the formula is exactly the same as it was 20 years ago on black-and-white TV, only the treatment has become slightly more fluid than it was in the beginning. Paul Trenwith is responsible for many of the tracks on the gospel album, themes taken from the New Testament, translated into simplistic directions in the words of today’s youth. No-one could ever deny the Trenwiths their sin-