Lush marks the first big-band album under the leadership of composer, arranger, and trumpeter Joe Clark. The band achieves a delicate balance, paying homage to the traditional big-band sound of the '40s while moving the music forward via Clark's modern arrangements. In order to achieve that balance, Clark assembled a versatile band that features Grammy-winning drummer Jeff Hamilton, who is also music director of the renowned modern big band Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. The eight tracks include takes on the Thelonious Monk composition "Well, You Needn't," the standards "Tenderly" and "Yesterday's Gardenias," Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life," Jeff Hamilton's "Samba de Martelo, and three original compositions from Clark.
from allmusic
