December 1997

Bobby Gordon
Bobby Gordon Plays Bing
Arbors Records

By Geraldine Wyckoff

Clarinetist Bobby Gordon and his eight-piece band remember the early career of Bing Crosby performing tunes associated with the legendary crooner. The material comes from the period of the late '20s and early '30s and includes songs which were recorded by Crosby and tunes from his many movies. Interestingly, Gordon choose to perform these Crosby hits-classics such as "Where the Blue of the Night Meets the Gold of the Day" and "I'm an Old Cow Hand"-instrumentally, which might make the disc less accessible to Crosby's vocal admirers. It's the sound of the era, however, a pleasant time, a time of grand dance floors and elegance.