Diva/Mensch pair for Aug 27, 2025

The Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement for 2013 went to Gordon Goodwin for "On Green Dolphin Street," as performed by Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band. That recording bristles with high-stepping diva energy but it's not my diva choice this week! One of the other nominees in that category caught my eye, Kim Richmond for "Invitation," as performed by The Kim Richmond Concert Jazz Orchestra. Whoa Nelly!

It caught my eye because "Invitation" is one of my favorite ballads ever - - I first heard it in the Rosemary Clooney recording, then another by the delicious jazz vocal group Singers Unlimited with Art Van Damme tearing the joint apart on the accordion, then my beloved Four Freshmen. I could go on but I won't. The Kim Richmond arrangement starts off cerebral and rather thorny, goes through a searching transition, and arrives at a classic jazz big band foot-tapping jam, ending with a gripping glacial slowdown vs drum solo mania coda, capped off with some whacked out chords and a deadly sax solo. A full meal.

The diva in the category is Nan Schwartz's arrangement of "Skylark" for Amy Dickson. The flute solo that opens the recording sets the tone of menschy, gentle reverie.

If you're interested: