I'll See You In My Dreams

Doug MacDonald, a versatile guitarist and arranger-composer who has led over two dozen albums in his career, worked with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra for a period in the 1980s, recording Groove Shop with the notable big band in 1989. In addition to playing next to bassist-composer John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton during that era, MacDonald has worked with pianist Tamir Hendelman (who was with a later version of the orchestra) on an occasional basis since that time. Now, decades later for the first time, MacDonald, Hendelman, Clayton and Hamilton can be heard as a quartet on I’ll See You In My Dreams.

It is a measure of their superb musicianship and their similar musical interests that the four musicians sound very much like a regularly working band on this set. They uplift seven beloved standards and two of the guitarist’s originals, infusing the songs with their own lively musical personalities while clearly enjoying the experience.

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Beginning with the four guitar breaks on the opening “I’ll See You In My Dreams,” this set gets off to a heated and exhilarating start. All of the musicians get a chance to be heard individually on that selection while MacDonald is showcased on a warm version of Duke Ellington’s “I Got It Bad.” Other highlights include Clayton’s bowed bass on “Don’cha Go ’Way Mad,” the transformation of “My Ship” into a medium-tempo bossa, and the guitarist’s “New Mark” which begins as a lowdown blues before becoming a medium-tempo romp that has some adventurous transitions.

I’ll See You In My Dreams also includes a rendition of “Easy To Love” that features guitar-piano and bass-drums tradeoffs, a heartfelt statement by MacDonald on “’Tis Autumn,” his original jazz waltz “More Yesterdays Than Todays,” and a cooking version of “Will You Still Be Mine.” This new recording is only the latest accomplishment in Doug MacDonald’s career. He grew up in Philadelphia, had important musical experiences performing in Hawaii and Las Vegas, and has long been a fixture in Southern California. While he worked in the past with such greats as Buddy Rich, Ray Charles, Bill Holman and Jack Sheldon, MacDonald is most frequently heard as a leader of his own combos.

For sidemen, it would be difficult for Doug MacDonald to do better than the masterful musicians featured on I’ll See You In My Dreams. Tamir Hendelman is always in great demand as a pianist and an arranger and his more notable associations include the Jeff Hamilton Trio, Harry Allen, Warren Vache, Houston Person, Rickey Woodard, Barbara Morrison and Barbra Streisand in addition to his own trios. John Clayton studied bass with Ray Brown, worked with the Monty Alexander Trio and the Count Basie Orchestra, has written arrangements for a long list of notable big bands (including the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra) and singers (from Joe Williams and Carmen McRae to Dee Dee Bridgewater and Diana Krall), and has long been one of jazz’s top bassists. In addition to co-leading the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra and heading his own trio, drummer Jeff Hamilton (equally skilled at playing with combos and big bands)
has a long resume that includes Monty Alexander, Woody Herman, the L.A. Four, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, and even Paul McCartney.

I’ll See You In My Dreams is a swinging and accessible set of joyful music that will delight all jazz fans.