Paul Weston - Champagne Wine

Review by Gabe Kovacs

Champagne Wine, the 1955 album by Paul Weston, is a delightful collection of instrumentals and vocal performances that showcase Weston's talents as a bandleader and arranger. The album features a mix of standards and lesser-known tunes, all given Weston's signature touch.

The album opens with the title track, "Champagne Wine," a lively instrumental that sets the tone for the rest of the album. The brass and strings are perfectly balanced, and the rhythm section keeps things moving along at a brisk pace.

Next up is "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing," a beautiful ballad that features Weston's wife, Jo Stafford, on vocals. Stafford's voice is as lovely as ever, and Weston's arrangement adds just the right amount of lushness to the song.

Other highlights on the album include "The Nearness of You," "I'm in the Mood for Love," and "It's a Blue World." Each song is given a fresh treatment by Weston and his orchestra, and the result is a cohesive and enjoyable album from start to finish.

Summary by Gabe Kovacs

Champagne Wine is a must-have for fans of Paul Weston or anyone who appreciates classic big band music. The album showcases Weston's skills as an arranger and bandleader, and the performances are top-notch. Highly recommended.