Search - Firehouse Five Plus Two :: 20 Years Later

Second childhood?

12/05/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"On this CD, the Firehouse Five Plus Two (Plus Three Or More on this occasion) give free reign to the zany humor which marked their earlier performances. From the song selections (many of them written in the '60s, including "Mame" and "Winchester Cathedral") to the odd sound effects (a whole chorus of dog howls on Yellow Dog Blues), this is a bit off-beat, even for the Firehouse Five. Don Kinch, who once played tuba for the group, becomes a second trumpet on this session; and on "High Society," George Probert adds two of his students to the group to make a soprano trio. The additional performers, and the use of a number of contemporary songs, make this a somewhat different experience from most Firehouse Five work. It's fun, but it's far from their best."