Actually, this is Mladen “Bobby” Gutesha’s album. although he has fallen into obscurity the Sarajevo-born Gutesha was a voice in jazz composing and arranging from the mid-fifties on into the 80’s. He arranged for jazz greats as diverse as Benny Goodman, the Modern Jazz Quartet, and was involved with ECM productions that included albums by Jan Garbarek and Keith Jarrett. Arranged, conducted, and produced by Gutesha, Amber Rock is a compilation of 12 jazzed up 60’s pop classics including The Lovin’ Spoonful’s Daydream the Percy Sledge hit When a Man Loves a Woman, the Mommas and the Papas’ hit Monday Monday, Little Anthony and the Imperials’ Goin’ Out of My Head, and Sunny, a piece that has been covered by scores of pop and jazz artists. Two of the 12 tunes are penned by Gutesha. It’s easy-listening album of pop classics with a spritz of jazz and nostalgia.
