Singers: David Hurley (countertenor), Timothy Wayne-Wright (countertenor), Paul Phoenix (tenor), Christopher Bruerton (baritone), Christopher Gabbitas (baritone), Jonathan Howard (bass)

Orchestra: South Jutland Symphony Orchestra

Arrangements: Alexander L’Estrange

Orchestrations: Jonathan Rathbone

In the 1920s the emergence of the radio and the growth of the recording industry allowed the big bands of the day to swing right into people’s living rooms, and popular music was never the same again. Melodies by such composers as Arlen, Gershwin, Rodgers, Kern and Porter, and later on, Sondheim and Coleman, were introduced on Broadway as well as in motion pictures and they continue to be much loved around the world. Recent terminology has grouped these songs together as The Great American Songbook, and the craftsmanship of the melodies, harmonies and lyrics are indeed the standard by which all other popular songs should be measured. For this double CD, we’ve had some of our favourites arranged by the jazz composer and arranger Alexander L’Estrange, with one CD featuring 17 a cappella tracks, and the other 8 orchestral versions, recorded with the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra.

Track Listing

Disc One

1. The best is yet to come Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh 3.07
2. Bewitched, bothered and bewildered Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart 3.25
3. Let's misbehave Cole Porter 3.10
4. Night and day Cole Porter 2.55
5. Cry me a river Arthur Hamilton 3.21
6. I've got the world on a string Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler 2.54
7. When I fall in love Victor Young, Edward Heyman 4.13
8. It's de-lovely Cole Porter 4.48
9. Beyond the sea Charles Trenet, Jack Lawrence 3.51
10. Cheek to cheek Irving Berlin 4.10
11. Begin the beguine Cole Porter 4.16
12. At last Mack Gordon, Harry Warren 2.31
13. I've got you under my skin Cole Porter 3.42
14. The lady is a tramp Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart 3.40
15. My funny valentine Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart 3.24
16. I won't dance Jerome Kern, Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh 3.58
17. Ev'ry time we say goodbye Cole Porter 2.44

 Disc Two

1. Let's misbehave (orchestral) Cole Porter 3.25
2. Begin the beguine (orchestral) Cole Porter 4.32
3. At last (orchestral) Mack Gordon, Harry Warren 2.49
4. It's de-lovely (orchestral)  Cole Porter  5.32
5. The lady is a tramp (orchestral) Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart 3.49
6. My funny valentine (orchestral) Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart 4.03
7. I've got the world on a string (orchestral) Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler 3.40
8. Ev'ry time we say goodbye (orchestral) Cole Porter 3.43