Noir

Clarinetist and saxophonist Anat Cohen and the Anzic Orchestra, led by arranger Oded Lev-Ari, team up for this impressive 2007 release. *Noir* is comprised exclusively of covers, and half of the songs are from Latin America. It’s an expansive set of material: tunes associated with figures as varied as Nat King Cole, Sun Ra, and Johnny Griffin can all be found here. Ernesto Lecuona’s “La Comparsa” opens with chugging cellos backing Cohen’s clarinet. Martial drumming kicks in, and layers of brass and winds join the strings to make a joyful noise. A cool, swinging version of “No Moon At All” (Nat King Cole had a hit with the song) features Cohen’s assertive tenor sax and Guillermo Montero’s nice guitar work. A hard-driving version of Griffin’s “Do It” showcases the Anzic Orchestra’s sax section reeling off a series of high-energy solos, while “Cry Me a River” sports a big sound that serves as a perfect setting for Cohen’s winning clarinet. *Noir* wraps things up with “Ingênuo,” a piece by the great Brazilian *choro* composer Pixinguinha. Backed by an elegant arrangement, Cohen displays great feeling for the lovely melody.