Cloudburst

This live gig from Munich, Germany, partially fills the ten-year gap in Hendricks' discography in the '60s and '70s with reprises of older material, some newer things, more than a dash of bossa nova, and plenty of ebullient spirits. Perhaps the solo versions of things like "Shiny Stockings" and "Cloudburst" don't have the geyser-like pizzazz of the Lambert, Hendricks & Ross versions. But Hendricks has his own humorous, jivey charm, and he swings quite agreeably with the trio of Larry Vuckovich (piano), Isla Eckinger (bass), and Kurt Bong. Despite the fact that his voice wasn't too suited for ballad tempos on this given day, he need not apologize for a performance of "Here's That Rainy Day" that is full of soulful feeling. Inevitably the high spot of mirth is Hendricks' rendition of "Gimme That Wine," and he satirizes Clark Terry's satire on the blues with his own "Jon's Mumbles." The last third of the disc is taken up by two rare Hendricks excursions into the music of Brazilian composer Edu Lobo, "Arrastao" (referred to on the recording by Hendricks as "The Net," although it's better-known in its Americanized transalation as "For Me"). For CD buyers only, a nine-minute workout of "Reza" is available here. ~ Richard S. Ginnell, Rovi