The Moon Is Low (1939) - Terry Allen

from Victor 26341 78 rpm
with Larry Clinton and his orchestra
Music by Nacio Herb Brown - Lyrics by Arthur Freed

[@Trombonology]

I adore this beautiful number, introduced by the great Cliff "Ukulele Ike" Edwards in MGM's _Montana Moon_ , of 1930. I find it interesting that the Clinton band chose to record the song in '39; musicians would have known it, but the young jitterbugs may have mistaken it for a new tune. Terry Allen, fresh from a stint with the Norvo band, distinguishes himself with a rather grave and compelling interpretation of a lovely melody and picturesque lyric. Though sometimes criticised for his penchant for adapting both classical and public domain folk material, Larry Clinton was an ace arranger with terrific taste and flair in combining various instrumental textures in his writing. The repeated clarinet choir figure that begins with Terry's reprise and ends the record is one that Larry would later use in his chart for "The Night We Met in Honumu," from '41.