Zoot+sims

From his 1940s work with Benny Goodman and Woody Herman until his death in 1985, tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims was the quintessential jazz musician. He always kept an enthusiastic commitment to improvising and a profound allegiance to the rhythmic art of swing. On this 1979 date he and a big band play distinctive Ellington orchestrations written by Benny Carter, who, like Ellington, helped architect the Swing Era. Here Sims's melodic and evocative tenor mingles the lightness of Lester Young with some of the richly grained sound of Ben Webster, and his performances of Billy Strayhorn's lush "Passion Flower" and Duke's "I've Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)" are especially moving. ~ Amazon

Zoot Sims, who was in his Pablo period, is heard throughout at the peak of his powers. Joined by a superb rhythm section, Sims plays six familiar standards, the obscure "In the Middle of a Kiss," Gary McFarland's "Blue Hodge," and his closing blues "Morning Fun." Zoot, who switches to soprano on "The Very Thought of You," swings up a storm as usual without playing a single dull or frivolous chorus. Kenny Drew and Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen also have their spots but the focus is mostly on the saxophonist. This set holds its own with Zoot Sims' classic studio performances of the era.

Zoot Sims - That Old Feeling (2005) {4CD Set Quadromania–Membran 222478-444 rec 1944-1956}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 1.09 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 557 Mb
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© 1944-56, 2005 Quadromania / Membran Music | 222478-444
Jazz / Bop / Bebop / Cool / Saxophone

New Design Jewel box. Case slightly wider than normal album case, but contains 4 CD! Using 24 Bit - 96 khz - High End Digital Mastering. The result is a warm and more analog sound than you've ever heard before on a CD. This 4 CD package offers nearly 4 hours of music and covers the period 1944 to 1956 in date order. Recording info is given accept where I specify.

Zoot Sims - Choice (1954, 1959) {Japan Mini LP TOCP-9422}
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© 1954, 1959, 2002 Pacific Jazz / Toshiba-EMI Japan | TOCP-9422 | Mini LP | 24bit remaster | Mono
Jazz / Cool / Bop / Saxophone

A few great slices of work by Zoot Sims – material recorded over a variety of sessions for Pacific Jazz – but all of it pretty darn great! Sims wasn't as much of a west coast hornman as some of the other leaders on Pacific Jazz – so the array of tracks makes for some surprising moments, both in Zoot's career, and for the label. Side one of the album has Zoot playing with a Gerry Mulligan ensemble on titles that include "I'll Remember April", "Red Door", and "Flamingo". Side two features Zoot playing instrumentals that were cut at the same time as an Annie Ross vocal session – with a group that includes Russ Freeman on piano, Jim Hall on guitar, and Mel Lewis on drums. Titles on that one are "You're Driving Me Crazy", "Brushes", and "Choice Blues".

HighNote finally issued this unreleased 1973 live date that puts leader Zoot Sims in the company of pianist Jimmy Rowles, bassist George Mraz and drummer Mousie Alexander. Most of the tunes are standards, but there is a rather rare Sims appearance on the soprano saxophone on "Rocking in Rhythm." The sound here is fine for a club performance though the players are a tad raw. That said, the performance, particularly that of Rowles, is swinging, hot, and blue.

This CD reissue features the great tenor-saxophonist Zoot Sims (who was then 25) leading his first American recording dates. He is heard with two quartets, the team of pianist John Lewis, bassist Curly Russell and drummer Don Lamond and with pianist Harry Biss, bassist Clyde Lombardi and drummer Art Blakey. All but two numbers clock in around the three-minute mark: an over eight-minute alternate version of "Zoot Swings the Blues" and an 11-minute "East of the Sun." Sims is in fine form throughout these cool-toned but hard-swinging sets.