Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims (1956) [flac] {classic Records 200g Lp; Dmr}

Other than a couple of albums for tiny collector's labels, this Muse album was Al Cohn's first album as a leader since 1962. Cohn had spent much of the interim as a full-time writer for studios and was finally returning to active playing. He renewed his musical partnership with Zoot Sims on this quintet date for Muse, which also includes pianist Jaki Byard, bassist George Duvivier and drummer Mel Lewis…

Avid Jazz here presents four classic Zoot Sims albums, including original LP liner notes on a finely re-mastered double CD.
The Four Brothers… Together Again!, From A to Z, Zoot and Whooeeee. Taking their name from their saxophone stylings in the 1940’s as part of the Woody Herman band the Four Brothers consisted at the time of recording Together Again in 1957 of Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Herbie Steward and Serge Chaloff. Take a listen to the album and you will soon witness the Brothers refute the accusation that they all sounded alike…

Zoot and trumpeter Jon Eardley were in Paris in 1956 as part of the Gerry Mulligan Sextet which performed at the Olympia. They took time off to record on their own in the studios. Tracks 1-4 released on French 10 inch LP were actually a rehearsal with the Henri Renaud trio which was deemed good enough to release. The rest of this Jazz In Paris CD features a Live set by the Henri Renaud ensemble complete with vibes and guitar dwarfing the saxes, and a loud but not unruly audience.

At first glance, Philadelphia violinist Joe Venuti and Los Angeles tenor/soprano saxophonist Zoot Sims might seem an unlikely combination. Venuti was known for swing, classic jazz, and Dixieland, whereas Sims (who was young enough to be Venuti's son) was primarily a cool/bop musician along the lines of Stan Getz, Al Cohn, and Paul Quinichette…

That Old Feeling compiles 14 songs cut at two 1956 dates, which were released on Argo and ABC-Paramount. At the sessions, Sims not only played tenor, but cut a few songs on alto and baritone sax as well.