7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
lay down a cool funky groove, February 22, 2001
This review is from: Bad Bossa Nova (Audio CD)
Gene Ammons does not showcase a lot of fireworks on this album, in fact, his soul-jazz style playing here is a little bland at times, but the songs are so catchy and the groove is dead-on all the way through that it ends up being a nice record after all. "Anna" has a rollicking pop start to it, thanks to the acoustic guitars of Bucky Pizzarelli and Kenny Burrell. Hank Jones sets the slinky tone on "Moito Mato Grosso," and Al Hayes' bongo playing throughout makes "Bad! Bossa Nova" a lot of fun, even if it's more of a latin/soul fusion than a true bossa nova album. It's clear they were tying to cash in on the craze of the time, and Ammons served a 5 year jail sentence for heroin possession not long after this was recorded, but still and all it is a record worth picking up.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Exceptionally Good Bossa Nova, November 4, 2009
This review is from: Bad Bossa Nova (Audio CD)
This is one of my favorite Gene Ammons records. It really captures his amazing sound and phrasing. I was so enamored of his solo on Anna I transcribed it and memorized on the Sax. Where some of his blues blowing can get raucous and his ballad playing is beautiful, but way laid back, this is a nice upbeat and tight set with Jug swinging at his best.
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