Title: Not a Keeper
Review: This was highly recommended by a jazz fan and I was ready for a "jazz" interpretation of the piece. However, most of the arrangements are too light and Las Vegas lounge-like for the original music. Really the only good parts are when the arrangers and singers stick fairly closely to the original music, only slightly varying the folk/operatic style the composer intended. Mel is OK, although his arrangements are poor. The Bess just butchers her pieces. At best, I find this a novelty item just worth having heard once and then dismissing. Stick to the Todd Duncan version, which is still the best.
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