Moonlighting, a collection of mostly new songs performed live, celebrates Van Dyke Parks' 30 years of writing and arranging. The fine print on the cover reads "voice with orchestral accompaniment," and Parks' earnest and endearing singing is indeed supported here by 17 musicians. Moonlighting kicks off perfectly with "Jump!," the title cut that also starts Parks' 1984 album. After a pair of selections from his then-recent Orange Crate Art, the set list proceeds to cull numbers from all points of Parks' long and distinguished career.
Parks rarely tours or plays live, though he clearly possesses rare grace and ease in all aspects of performance. The beautifully recorded Moonlighting offers a rare glimpse at Parks' interplay with an audience. He is the perfect host throughout, recounting anecdotes and reading poetry. Oh, to have been in the room when the orchestra rolled into Parks' mesmerizing Song Cycle nugget, "The All Golden!" Though unheralded, Van Dyke Park's is one of America's finest writers. Moonlighting is all the proof we need.