The best show I reviewed this season was the Palm Beach Pops' tribute to the great Benny Goodman April 8 at the Kravis Center.

Maybe it was the odd Tuesday night performance instead of the usual Monday opening. But whatever the case, the band was definitely on, and before long, the joint was jumping!

Several Pops regulars were given a chance to shine in this program; but throughout the evening the steady hands of Frank Derrick on drums and Phil Flanigan on bass provided the solid rhythm section necessary for a night of Big Band classics.

Maestro Bob Lappin ran his troops through their paces in a refreshing variety of configurations, from simple duet to full orchestra. Everyone on stage seemed at ease with the arrangements, many of which were original charts from the Goodman band.

But what really made this night a cut above were the guest soloists: Ken Peplowski, a clarinetist, and Lynn Roberts, a world-class vocalist. These veterans brought that little something extra to the show; they traded barbs and one-liners with Lappin between some extremely tasteful performances.

It was that contagious camaraderie between the three that made the difference — and made for a truly memorable evening to close out the 2008 Pops season.

David A. Frye is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and a longtime fan of jazz and pop music.