In 1942, with the World at war and the nation's cultural life crippled by an historic musician's strike, the Pentagon empowered a task force to produce its own music for the troops. The great acts of the day, Hoagy, Louie, Glenn, Dinah, Peggy, Frank, Jo, Ella, Tommy - everybody who vas anybody - rushed to volunteer. In all, the Federal Government recorded, produced and shipped eight million records to the four corners of the earth.
It's a great story, with a soundtrack featuring the standards we love and rarities awaiting excavation. Thanks to the smuggling efforts of our soldiers and preservation by the Library of Congress, this great moment in our musical history has not been lost to time.
REVIEWS
Singer Kathryn Allyn, with a huge assist from musical director, co-arranger (with Allyn) and pianist Frank Ponzio, stands ready to educate us on the subject of V-Discs in this musically superb set of early 1940s period songs...Tom Hubbard on bass, Hayes Greenfield on saxophone and Scott Neumann on drums ... are splendid contributors to the proceedings. Allyn sings in a strong, sure voice and internalizes lyrics well beyond her years. - Robert Windeler, BistroAwards.com
Particularly strong performances were heard in “Mood Indigo,” “You Go to My Head” and "Mood Indigo”... The phrasing was luxurious, and backed by her superb band - Ponzio (piano), Tom Hubbard (bass), Hayes Greenfield (sax), and Scott Neumann (drums) - she conveyed the atmosphere of a dark and smoky gin joint."... With the relaxed pacing of a catchy samba, Allyn was at once assertive and flirty... has a powerful voice, a wide range, a satirical sense of humor, presence, directness and sex appeal. - Jerry Osterberg, Cabaret Scenes
Coax Me a Little Bit: Kathryn Allyn, Frank Ponzio, Hayes Greenfield, Tom Hubbard, Scott Neumann