Ron Weinstock of Jazz Blues Magazine reviews Wayne Alpern’s “Jukebox.” Weinstock says; “The Wind Ensemble’s performance of the arrangements transform compositions such as “Blue Moon,”
Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Start Believing,’” Charlie Parker’s “Ornithology,” The Beatles’ “Penny Lane,” and the Stephen Sondheim classic “Send In the Clowns” into chamber ensemble gems. The resulting performances are such that they might be comfortable being on a Masterpiece Theater show (and one of the tunes performed is the “Downton Abbey” theme). Alpern’s arrangements also give considerable charm to Duke Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood,” “Do-Re-Mi” from “The Sound of Music,” and the “Nutcracker Suite.” “Jukebox” is a fascinating and delightful recasting of familiar numbers that may be easy to listen to but has solid musical substance.
