Zoot+sims

This is a classic encounter in the Original Jazz Classics series. Pianist Count Basie (in his best-small group outing of the 1970s) and tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims were mutually inspired by each other's presence and, with the tasteful assistance of bassist John Heard and drummer Louie Bellson, they can be heard playing at the peak of their creative powers. Every listener interested in swinging jazz should pick up this disc, if only to hear these hard-charging versions of "I Never Knew," "It's Only a Paper Moon," and "Honeysuckle Rose." A gem, and essential music.

Zoot Sims - Waiting Game (1966) {2015 Japan Impulse! Classics 50 Series UCCI-9272}
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© 1966, 2015 Impulse! / Verve / Universal Music Japan | UCCI-9272 | LP AS-9131
Jazz / Bop / Cool / Bebop / Saxophone

A rare gem from Zoot Sims – very different than any of his other albums! The session features Zoot blowing over large backings arranged and conducted by Gary McFarland, a bit in the older Verve "with strings" mode, but also sparkling with a lot of the newer elements that McFarland was bringing to his work at the time. The approach is both light and lush at the same time – and Zoot's got a tone and approach that we've never heard on any other record, making the whole album an incredible treat that we'd rank up there with Stan Getz's experiments of the same type from the 60s. Titles include "I Wish I Knew", "Does The Sun Really Shine On The Moon", "Once We Loved", "Old Folks", "September Song", "Stella By Starlight", and "Once I Could Have Loved".

Norman Granz's idea to match Zoot Sims' lyrical, swinging tenor sax with Johnny Mandel's equally arresting compositions was a masterful one. Sims' tart, alternately lush and furious solos were wonderfully spotlighted on such tunes as "Cinnamon and Cloves," "Emily" and "Zoot." ~ Allmusic

These four sides should not be hard to locate, as the primary participants in this November 30, 1956, session have all issued them within their individual catalogs. However Tenor Conclave was first released as credited to the "leaderless" Prestige All-Stars - consisting of tenor saxophonists John Coltrane, Hank Mobley, Al Cohn, and Zoot Sims. Providing support are pianist Red Garland, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Art Taylor. The Mobley-penned title track commences the effort with the quartet of tenors showing off their stuff in high-flying style. It takes a couple of passes and somewhat of a trained ear to be able to link the players with their contributions, but as is often the case, the whole tends to be greater than the sum of the parts…

Zoot Sims - Live At Falcon Lair (1956) {Pablo 2310977 rel 2004}
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© 1956, 2004 Pablo / Fantasy | 2310977
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Saxophone

Live at Falcon Lair has a more interesting back story than many older recordings that have been rescued for posterity, but even the story takes a backseat to the excellent music. Falcon Lair wasn't a club, but the home of Doris Duke (and once the home of Rudolph Valentino), whom pianist Joe Castro married in 1956. Castro developed his musical rep playing around L.A., sometimes in the company of bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Ron Jefferson.

Sonny Stitt & Zoot Sims - Inter-Action (1965) {2011 Japan Jazz The Best Series 24-bit Remaster UCCU-9745}
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© 1965, 2011 Cadet / Verve / Universal Japan | UCCU-9745
Jazz / Bop / Saxophone

Inter-Action is an album by saxophonists Sonny Stitt and Zoot Sims recorded in Chicago in 1965 and released on the Cadet label. The Sims-Stitt collaboration is of particular interest as are Sims's rare alto solos on his own date. Worth searching for. Just what you'd expect with this front-line pair. Nice session.

Zoot Sims - New Beat Bossa Nova, Vol 1 (1962) {2017 Japan SHM-CD Jazz Masters Collection 1200 Series WPCR-29226}
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© 1962, 2017 Colpix Records / Parlophone / Warner Music Japan | WPCR-29226 / LP Colpix SCP435
Jazz / Latin Jazz / Bossa Nova / Cool / Bop / Saxophone

Reissue with SHM-CD format and the latest 24bit remastering. Comes with a mini-description. A great chapter in 60s bossa jazz – Zoot Sims "answer" to Stan Getz's bossa work on Verve – recorded in a similar jazz-meets-bossa style, with some great guitar work by Jim Hall! Zoot's solos are a bit tighter and not as laidback as Stan's – giving a more jazz-based sound to the work that makes for a nice change – and most of the tunes feature larger backings from Manny Albam and Al Cohn – never too over-arranged, but with enough of a full swinging sound to set things right. Hall's guitar works surprisingly well in the setting – and titles include "Barquinho De Papel", "Ciume", "Recado Bossa Nova (parts 1 & 2)", and "Cano Canoe".

Art 'n' Zoot is a lively, engaging, and flawless set of jazz from two sax masters. The performances, from Pepper's gut-wrenching version of "Over the Rainbow" to Sims's jaunty take on "The Girl from Ipanema" are tight and energetic,with superior support from a backup group including the likes of bass legend Ray Brown and a guest appearance from guitarist Barney Kessell. ~ Amazon