The Keith Ingham Sextet & Trio - A Star Dust Melody (1999)

Bass – Greg Cohen (tracks: 1 to 11, 13 to 19); Bass Clarinet – Scott Robinson (2) (tracks: 3, 13); Clarinet – Scott Robinson (2) (tracks: 1, 5, 7, 10, 15, 17); Drums – Arnie Kinsella; Guitar – James Chirillo (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17); Piano, Harpsichord – Keith Ingham; Trumpet – Randy Reinhart (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17).

Pianist Keith Ingham pays tribute to the legendary songwriter Hoagy Carmichael on this well-conceived project. Ingham is heard in three separate settings. Eight songs have him doubling on harpsichord in a sextet reminiscent of Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five, with Scott Robinson on clarinet and bass clarinet and trumpeter Randy Reinhart. "Hong Kong Blues" features Ingham in a conventional piano/bass/drums trio, while the remaining ten songs are mostly joyous romps in a trio with clarinetist Bobby Gordon and drummer Arnie Kinsella. The 19 songs are mostly all pretty familiar, but these renditions give them fresh life while re-creating their original joy. Ingham was one of the top swing pianists of the 1990s, and A Star Dust Melody is one of his many excellent recordings. Recommended. ~Scott Yanow