Over The Rainbow, Herb Alpert, CD

On his 2019 album, Over The Rainbow, Herb Alpert began the same way he has done for all of his albums over the years: searching for great melodies. That search has resulted in the prolific trumpeter's latest offering, a collection of 11 classics and one brand new, original track. That original song, "Skinny Dip", opens the album with a quirky, fun vibe before things move on to recognizable tunes from the great American songbook, which are included for various reasons close to Herb's heart. He felt the danger in the tightrope walk of recording his own version of the iconic "Over The Rainbow", which was cemented within pop culture by Judy Garland's performance and many other fantastic recordings. And whether it's a tribute to Gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt on "All Love", Bill Withers on "Ain't No Sunshine", or the great Louis Armstrong on "What A Wonderful World", there is always a deeper connection and meaning for Herb on every cover selected for this album, making it one of the most personal projects he has ever worked on.