January/February 2002

Harry Goldson Cafe Society Orchestra
R.S.V.P. For Dancers Only
Weatherbird

By Harvey Siders

On R.S.V.P for Dancers Only (Weatherbird 7-1218-2; 59:04), Harry Goldson's Cafe Society Orchestra most certainly got the spirit, but it doesn't belong in this column. In spite of surrounding himself with some highly respected jazz names (Ray Reed, Ron King, Ben Di Tosti, John Pisano, Trey Henry and the Yma Sumac of jazz, Jeanne Pisano), Goldson adheres too faithfully to the album title to turn on jazz lovers. He extends his R.S.V.P. to dancers only and reinforces it with the Cafe Society image of bright fox trots, one-chorus medleys and danceable tunes with instantly recognizable vamps: "One" and "New York, New York." They're all well played and there are brief moments of polite improvisation, but Goldson's roots (bands like Chuck Foster, Del Courtney, Frankie Masters and Russ Morgan) germinate in a bouquet of boredom-unless you just want to dance.