Songwriter, band leader, and background vocalist Larry Cordle invited several of his famous friends to join him on the album, appropriately titled All-Star Duets, with songs Larry wrote for them. Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Terri Clark, Kevin Denny, Diamond Rio, Alison Krauss, Kathy Mattea, Daryle Singletary, Travis Tritt, Del McCoury, Rick Skaggs and Trisha Yearwood all make appearances on the project.
Duke Daniels is not a solo artist, but rather an alias for singer/songwriter Dan Clark and his bandmates. Led by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dan Clark, Duke Daniels is one of southern California's best new country rock bands. With Clark's baritone vocals accompanied by Geoffrey Moore on guitar, Larry Aberman on drums, Byron Thomas on keyboards and Nick Sample, the son of jazz bassist Joe Sample, on bass, Duke Daniels continues to build on their roots-oriented sound.
Pianist Larry Vuckovich has recorded in a variety of settings in his career, ranging from swing to music that reflects his roots in Eastern Europe. Street Scene is one of his finest showcases for it puts the focus on Vuckovich's skills on the piano in a trio that on four selections is augmented by one or two Latin percussionists. The Latin pieces, which include "As Time Goes by Mambo" and "Blue Bohemia Suite," are particularly infectious. The trio numbers, which include standards, a few obscurities (including Sonny Clark's "News for Lulu") and some originals by the pianist, are swinging, boppish, and inventive, attached to the tradition but not predictable. With stimulating support from bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Akira Tana, this is an easily enjoyable and recommended release from one of San Francisco's finest jazz pianists.
Along with his brother Larry, trumpeter Les Elgart led one of the more popular swing orchestras of the '50s. His smooth, tightly arranged sound helped keep the declining big band style alive on the charts for a little while longer, and his later reunions with Larry often produced stylistic detours into contemporary easy listening trends…