Claus Ogerman was a German arranger, conductor, and composer best known for his work with Billie Holiday, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Frank Sinatra, and Diana Krall. Also he's charted with his own Orchestra in the middle of 60s.

Claus Ogerman was a German arranger, conductor, and composer best known for his work with Billie Holiday, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Frank Sinatra, and Diana Krall. Also he's charted with his own Orchestra in the middle of 60s.

Of Claus Ogerman's four mod albums for Victor, "Soul Searching" is a favorite for many because the theme, and certainly the tunes, are hip. As Ogerman's liner notes explain, he ranks soul third in significance after pop and jazz. In any case, Ogerman does a competent job covering all these songs; the title track (an Ogerman original) can be called funky, even. A large factor is Dick Hyman's Lowrey organ; his facility with both jazz and soul is in full evidence here. "The End of the Line" was a hit for Vinnie Bell, but the greater significance is that it was written by Pat Williams and Phil Ramone. The Ogerman albums on Victor share a great deal with the mod albums on Verve by Williams, Kai Winding, and others. Veering away from pop and toward soul-jazz, Soul Searchin' has a peppy jazz-boogaloo beat that feels neither constrained nor ponderous. The surprise is that it works.

Now that we're in the full swing of the summer season, it seemed logical to go for an album this month with a sunny disposition. So let me make the disclaimer that the music on this LP will not change your life and I make no claims for innovation or anything earth shattering. But with your hi-fi setup close to the pool or deck, a libation of your choice in hand, and possibly a dance partner, you might find "Watusi Trumpets" to be a sunny finger popping disc.

"The Composer of Desafinado, Plays" is Antonio Carlos Jobim's debut album originally released in 1963. The Brazilian musician and composer was known as one of the primary influences behind the creation of the bossa nova musical style. The record features all original compositions, including "The Girl from Ipanema" one of the most widely recorded songs of all time.

The originator of Brazilian Bossa Nova delivered "Amoroso" to the public in 1977. It displayed the ethereal, fine-tuned quality of his vocals and wonderfully complex and daring string arrangements. This spacious, mellow album is now available in 192kHz high definition audio.

The Composer of Desafinado, Plays is Antonio Carlos Jobim's debut album originally released in 1963. The Brazilian musician and composer was known as one of the primary influences behind the creation of the bossa nova musical style. The record features all original compositions, including "The Girl from Ipanema" one of the most widely recorded songs of all time.