5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Harmony, Rhythm & Melodic Improvisation....., September 9, 2003
This review is from: Jive 5 (Audio CD)
....describes the music on this cd which straddles mainstream and bop. Rob McConnell is an excellent soloist with a real warm sound. Neil Swainson is well known for his association with George Shearing. Ed Bickert has a cool tone and a boppish style and has become one of my favorite guitarists.....sounding somewhat similar to Kenny Burrell on a ballad. The late Jerry Fuller, I suspect, was very underrated but an excellent timekeeper and recorded with a multitude of well known musicians. Rick Wilkins is another excellent soloist with a Zoot Sims style who has long been associated with McConnell's Boss Brass.
The opener, "Back Beat" by Horace Silver, is indicative of the music in the rest of the program.....great harmony, laid back, yet lightly swinging and with ample room allowed for soloists.
"Change Partners" is done in a bossa nova setting, probably suggested from an earlier recording of Ed Bickert's. The other bossa in the set is Thad Jones' "Bossa Nova Ova".
"Dirty Man", written by Bob Brookmeyer, is a natural for the style of Rob McConnell. It was also recorded in an earlier Boss Brass album.
"Them There Eyes" is the fastest tempo of the whole set as it's taken at a very brisk pace.
The boppish "Red Devil", written by another bassist, Red Mitchell, is the spotlight feature for Neil Swainson.
My favorite is the Johnny Mercer tune "Dream" which is done so tastefully mellow that it is strictly late night dancing......I mean like when you hold your partner! Rick Wilkins' second solo on this one is completely Zoot Sims.
The closer 4 B.C. (for Benny Carter) is similar to the opener for it's fine harmony and easy tempo. This was also recorded in the Boss Brass 25th year album (1993?).
This is a fine jazz cd for anyone's collection. It has a fine mix of tunes, excellent musicians, and a small group setting that is nicely balanced.......not overpowering....but not a background type of set.....definitely enjoyable listening!
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