CD Reissue of the Month - "Franco Ambrosetti & Don Sebesky: Sleeping Gypsy"

CD Reissue of the Month (Mini-LP sleeve)
Franco Ambrosetti: "Sleeping Gypsy - A Collection of Arrangements and Ochestrations for Full Orchestra by Don Sebesky" (Gryphon)

Produced by Norman Schwartz
Arranged & Conducted by Don Sebesky
Engineered by Keith Grant @ Studio 7 (Corso Venezia 7, Milan, Italy) in 1979; released in 1980
Mixed by Neil Ceppos @ Right Track Studios (NYC, NY, USA)
Mastered by Ted Jensen @ Sterling Sound (NYC, NY, USA)
Project Coordinator: David Whitehead
Album Design: Frank Daniel
Photos: Giuseppe Pino
Liner Notes: Franco Ambrosetti & Norman Schwartz

Featuring:
Franco Ambrosetti (flugelhorn), Eddie Daniels (tenor sax), George Gruntz (piano), Barry Miles (synthesizers), Ron Carter (bass), Grady Tate (drums), Portinho (percussion), Joe Beck (guitar)

Ambrosetti's best solo album ever. At the height of his powers, the Swiss trumpetist shows why he is one of the top all-time flugelhorn players, alongside Clark Terry, Art Farmer, Freddie Hubbard and Chuck Mangione. Don Sebesky provides sumptuous scores in the lush CTI style, and contributes with two original tunes: the haunting title track "Sleeping Gypsy" (the guitar intro recalls the Jay Berliner performance on "For Someone I Love," from the Sebesky-arranged Milt Jackson's "Sunflower" album) and the fusion-oriented "Lugano Lady."

There's also an inspired version of Hoagy Carmichael's "Skylark" (a tune he had arranged for CTI sessions by Paul Desmond and Roland Hanna, this time a vehicle for a great solo by Eddie Daniels on tenor), and lovely ballads by Stephen Sondheim ("Johanna") and Tito Fontana ("Demoiselle.")