Banana Fish

Personnel: Don Grusin (piano, synthesizer, guitar, background vocals); Tollak Ollestad (vocals, harmonica); Brenda Russell, Frank Quintero (vocals); Gary Herbig (soprano & baritone saxophones); Charlie Bisharat (violin); John Patitucci, Armand Sabal-Lecco (bass); Harvey Mason, Carlos Vega (drums); Shem Shroek, Michael Now (background vocals).
Recorded in March-April, 1994.
Personnel: Don Grusin (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, synthesizer, background vocals); Tollak Ollestad (vocals, harmonica); Frank Quintero, Brenda Russell (vocals); Charlie Bisharat (violin); Gary Herbig (soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone); Harvey Mason, Sr. , Carlos Vega (drums); Michael Now, Shem Shroek (background vocals).
Recording information: Bad Dog Studio (03/1994-04/1994); Sunset Sound Studio (03/1994-04/1994).
Arrangers: Don Grusin; Tollak Ollestad.
Banana Fish is one of keyboardist Don Grusin's weaker efforts. Two songs (Brenda Russell's "Baby's Comin' Home Tonight" and Frank Quintero's "Green Diamonds") are throwaway R&B tunes. The instrumentals are at their best when used as slightly funky background music. There is little development beyond the melody statements, and nothing occurs that will be remembered five minutes after the CD ends except one of the dullest versions of "Home on the Range" ever recorded. Don Grusin has always been capable of much better than this type of commercial project. ~ Scott Yanow