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Oliver, a musical based on Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, became a hit British play in 1960, having 2,618 performances. It also did well on Broadway during 1963-64, where it had 774 performances, and was filmed in 1968. The adventure story, set in 1800's England and full of rich characters, still communicates well to today's audiences and has been revived in recent times.
Back in 1964, pianist Bob Dorough recorded the first jazz adaptation of the music from Oliver. Dorough is best known as a witty lyricist, composer, pianist and singer who often sings his own songs which include “Devil May Care,” “Nothing Like You,” the Mel Torme hit “Comin' Home Baby,” “I'm Hip” (co-written with Dave Frishberg) and “I've Got Just About Everything.”
However the Bob Dorough heard on Oliver is strictly a jazz pianist, leading a quartet also including guitarist Al Schackman, bassist Ben Tucker and drummer Bobby Thomas. He was born in 1923 in Arkansas, growing up in Texas. Although he played clarinet in his high school band, Dorough's main instrument was the piano. He spent three years during World War II. in the Army, mostly working as an entertainer in a Special Services unit. After his discharge, he earned a music degree from the University of North Texas and by 1952 he was a part of the New York jazz scene, working in a variety of settings. His debut recording as a leader in 1956 introduced “Devil May Care” and gave him some recognition although he would be mostly an underground hero for many years. Dorough only recorded infrequently during the next two decades (including two songs with Miles Davis in 1962) before his assignment to write songs for the childrens cartoon series Schoolhouse Rock made some of his music familiar to a new generation. Gradually over time, Bob Dorough has gained the fame that he has long deserved.
For his exploration of the music from Oliver, Dorough and his quartet perform a dozen songs from the show including inventive versions of “Food, Glorious Food,” “As Long As He Needs Me,” “Who Will Buy,” “I'd Do Anything” and “It's A Fine Life.” Flugelhornist Clark Terry and the highly expressive trombonist Tyree Glenn add color and wit in their guest appearances.
Review
"Bob Dorough and his group give the songs from Oliver a new life that is independent from the production, turning vocal show tunes into high-quality instrumental jazz. This album deserves to be much better known.
"In 1964, pianist-singer-lyricist Bob Dorough recorded the first jazz treatment of the music from Oliver. This strictly instrumental set has Dorough leading a combo also featuring guitarist Al Shackman and two notable guests: flugelhornist Clark Terry and trombonist Tyree Glenn. The dozen songs from the production are given inventive, expressive and witty explorations that make one realize that such numbers as "Food, Glorious Food," "As Long As He Needs Me" and "I'd Do Anything" should be jazz standards" -Scott Yanow
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