It's How You Play the Game

by Marlene VerPlanck

Overview

Marlene VerPlanck is a veteran singer who still has plenty to offer jazz fans after nearly a half century as a professional. Her vocals are consistently clear, mellow, and swinging in this program dominated by show tunes. But her choices aren't ones that have exactly been done to death at the start of the 21st century. She soars in the bright bossa nova scoring of "I Got Lost in His Arms," while her warmth is obvious in "Be Careful, It's My Heart." The singer's enthusiasm is contagious in "I Wanna Be in Love Again," while her playful scatting seems effortless in the buoyant "Love Looks Good on You." Her husband, Billy VerPlanck, contributed the arrangements and two originals, the lovely ballad "Cocktails at Dawn" and "It's How You Play the Game," the latter, unfortunately, stands out like a sore thumb due to the annoying (and unaccredited) electric keyboards. But the band is a superb one, featuring no fewer than six members of the exciting big band Diva: drummer Sherrie Maricle, alto saxophonist Karolina Strassmayer, clarinetist and tenor saxophonist Anat Cohen, pianist Chihiro Yamanaka, trumpeter Barbara Laronga, and bassist Norika Ueda. ~ Ken Dryden

Product Details

Release Date:	02/06/2004
Label:	Audiophile Records
UPC:	0762247232520
Rank:	254136

Tracks

1. It's How You Play the Game
2. I Got Lost in His Arms
3. Be Careful, It's My Heart
4. Easy to Love
5. May I Come In?
6. My Man Benny
7. Only Trust Your Heart
8. I Wanna Be in Love Again
9. The First Thing About You
10. Love Looks Good on You
11. Experiment
12. Save Your Love for Me
13. The Jazz Buff
14. Cocktails at Dawn
15. Maybe It's the Moon
16. All My Tomorrows

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Marlene VerPlanck   Primary Artist,Vocals
Karolina Strassmayer   Sax (Alto)
Anat Cohen   Clarinet,Sax (Tenor)
Barbara Laronga   Trumpet
Chihiro Yamanaka   Piano

Technical Credits

Wendell Echols   Production Coordination
Joe Cocuzzo   Composer
Walter Donaldson   Composer
Johnny Mercer   Composer
James Van Heusen   Composer
Pete Rugolo   Composer
Jim Czak   Engineer
Ruby Fisher   Composer
Marvin Fisher   Composer
Buddy Johnson   Composer
Billy Ver Planck   Composer
Benny Carter   Composer
Phil Woods   Composer
Sammy Cahn   Composer
John Meyer   Composer
Irving Berlin   Composer
Cole Porter   Composer