Zoot+sims

A great set of mainstream jazz, led by tenor sax player Zoot Sims and electric guitar maestro Bucky Pizzarelli. Wonderful straight ahead jazz from two masters. From the mid-1970s, I think. Bucky does a really nice solo of "Send in the Clowns". The rest is an enjoyable and swinging collection of small group jazz from these two.

"Stretching Out". Like many studio sessions recorded for United Artists, this 1958 session co-led by Zoot Sims and Bob Brookmeyer can be a bit tricky to find. Brookmeyer contributed most of the charts, including the easygoing blues which serves as the title track, as well as updated treatments of Jelly Roll Morton's "King Porter Stomp" and "Ain't Misbehavin'." Al Cohn is responsible for a swinging chart of "Pennies from Heaven" during which he switches to baritone sax, while Bill Potts wrote and arranged "Bee Kay." The rest of the superb band includes Harry "Sweets" Edison, Hank Jones, bassist Eddie Jones, guitarist Freddie Green, and drummer Charlie Persip. Aside from a few innocuous reed squeaks, the music is essentially flawless and has stood the test of time very well…

Zoot Sims - New Beat Bossa Nova, Vol 2 (1962) {2017 Japan SHM-CD Jazz Masters Collection 1200 Series WPCR-29227}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 238 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 76 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 80 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24bit remaster
© 1962, 2017 Colpix Records / Parlophone / Warner Music Japan | WPCR-29227 / LP Colpix CP437
Jazz / Latin Jazz / Bossa Nova / Cool / Bop / Saxophone

Reissue with SHM-CD format and the latest 24bit remastering. Comes with a mini-description. An overlooked chapter in American bossa jazz of the 60s – recordings that weren't nearly as well-circulated as the Stan Getz bossa nova albums on Verve, but which have an equally special sort of sparkle! The arrangements here are by Manny Albam and Al Cohn – who both bring an earlier sense of large jazz charts into play with the tighter rhythms of the bossa – at a level that makes things explode nicely with a sense of color, while still keeping the groove light overall!

Zoot Sims - New Beat Bossa Nova, Vol. 1 & 2 (1962) {Colpix Japan Mini LP TOCJ-9604 rel 2004}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 423 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 148 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 88 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1962, 2004 Colpix Records / Toshiba-EMI | TOCJ-9604 | Mini LP | 24bit remastering
Jazz / Latin Jazz / Bossa Nova / Cool / Saxophone

24bit digitally remastered reissue. Comes housed in a cardboard sleeve. This release compiles two wonderful LPs presenting Zoot Sims playing bossa nova songs, as well as jazz standards in a bossa nova mood arranged by Manny Albam and Al Cohn: New Beat Bossa Nova (Colpix SCP435), and its sequel, New Beat Bossa Nova Vol. 2 (Colpix SCP437). Recorded in 1962, these were among the first albums to combine bossa nova and jazz. Both LPs feature the outstanding guitarist Jim Hall as a soloist.

In 1962 Benny Goodman had a historic visit to the Soviet Union, touring with a big band full of young all-stars. After the orchestra returned to the U.S., tenor saxophonist Al Cohn (who had not made the trip but did write some of Goodman's charts) put together an album (also released by Colpix) using many of the sidemen and paying tribute to the event. Strangely enough none of the six numbers are Cohn originals and he does not play on the record although he arranged all of the music. Of the six songs, "Mission to Moscow," "Let's Dance" and "Russian Lullaby" were part of Goodman's repertoire. Altoist Phil Woods effectively doubles on clarinet and other soloists include tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims, trumpeter Marky Markowitz and trombonist Willie Dennis. An interesting set of modern swing.

Stan Getz's five tracks on this CD were recorded in 1969 at a French jazz festival. The backing from his trio, was at that time quite modern enough to provide a stimulus for the leader and he responded with typically matchless performances.Sims could swing at the drop of a banjo, so it might be regarded as overkill to have provided him with a rhythm section which can swing so easily as this one, but the mood is directed more towards the ballad, to include a sumptuous reading of Come Rain Or Come Shine.