Buddy DeFranco joins with the popular John Pizzarelli Trio and Butch Miles to prove that he is still "Mr. Clarinet". Swinging from start to finish, DeFranco shows that same dexterity and musical passion that made him a pioneer in exploring the clarinet for be-bop and one of the all time clarinet greats. The John Pizzarelli Trio, another paragon of swing, and Butch Miles, who has swung the Count Basie Orchestra for many years, provide the rhythmic base, and John Pizzarelli adds two (voc) in his crowd-pleasing way.
Buddy DeFranco (cl) John Pizzarelli (g) Ray Kennedy (p) Martin Pizzarelli (b) Butch Miles (dr)

While one finds the clarinet less often in the new millennium, than say, the tenor sax, it no longer seems in danger of becoming extinct, thanks to practitioners like Buddy DeFranco. From "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise," to the closing intensity of Charlie Parker's "Scrapple From the Apple," DeFranco, guitarist John Pizzarelli, bassist Martin Pizzarelli, pianist Ray Kennedy, and drummer Butch Miles show that even though the clarinet may be rooted in jazz past, it's far from old-fashioned. The set list includes lots of standards — "Dancing in the Dark," "Poor Butterfly," and "Gone With the Wind" — and two super upbeat pieces by DeFranco — "I Lost the Blues," and the title cut. Lengthy cuts like "East of the Sun (And West of the Moon)" allow the clarinet, guitar, and piano plenty of solo time, while bassist Martin Pizzarelli and drummer Miles keep this outfit in a steady groove. The album also includes two nice vocals by John Pizzarelli on "Prisoner of Love" and "What Is This Thing Called Love?" It's easy to forget that clarinet practitioners like Tony Scott and DeFranco took the clarinet far beyond the swing familiarized by Benny Goodman and others. Cookin' the Books, however, will serve to freshen the memory in the most enjoyable way. (Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.)
Recorded: June 24, 25, 2003 at Nola Studios, NYC.