Larry Elgart and His Orchestra: Live From the Ambassador

I'm going to ask the question right up front and get it over with: why would anyone want to watch a video that just features a big band playing, without period photographs, interesting backgrounds, or--INCREDIBLY!--dancing? That out of the way, I can heartily recommend this performance video which stars one of the last remaining 'names' in big band music--Larry Elgart. The chameleon of swing, Elgart can imitate anyone from Glenn Miller to Benny Goodman and come off almost as well as the original. His repertoire in this video consists of three great medleys: two from his Hooked On Swing albums, as well as a tribute to Fred Astaire. Vocalist Jennifer Lind sparkles in two numbers, "I Get The Blues When It Rains" and "Just In Time", but it's Elgart's band and ol' Larry, himself, that provides the biggest thrill. They say that swing music is making a comeback (witness kids listening to The Brian Setzer Orchestra), but hey, folks, it never really left! These timeless tunes have set toes a'tappin for decades and show no sign of fading away any time soon. DON'T sit back and enjoy this video--turn your living room into a dance floor and burn off a few hundred calories swinging to some of the best music this side of "Tuxedo Junction." Recommended. Aud: P. (J. Carlson)