Customer Reviews

Zoot Sims and the Gershwin Brothers

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
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Zoot Sims never made a bad album, but he did make a great number that were merely very good. This one, however, is excellent. Sims, Peterson, and Pass all solo beautifully, and the bass and drum team of Mraz and Tate are behind them every step of the way. The two standout tracks are 'I Got Rhythm', where Sims follows an explosive Peterson solo with full-throated honks and excursions into his beautiful upper register; and 'Embraceable You', when Zoot proves that only Webster, Getz, and Hawkins can challenge him for beauty of tone. That said, there isn't a bad track on this CD, and it will give any Zoot fan -- any jazz fan -- a great deal of pleasure.

Recorded in 1975 and one of Zoot's finest CDs. His rich, warm tone is at the fore on every tune, whether it's an up-tempo swinger like THE MAN I LOVE or I GOT RHYTHM or a slow ballad like HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON. All of these are familiar songs to Zoot, he's probably played most a thousand times, but he is still able to make them sound fresh. Pianist Oscar Peterson can be overpowering at times, but on this album he restrains himself and plays tasty accompaniment (his solos are excellent, too). Joe Pass is on guitar and solos nicely on what I consider the highlight track, 'S WONDERFUL. George Mraz (b) and Grady Tate (d) offer solid support throughout. This is straight ahead, solid mainstream jazz at its finest. Definitely worth checking out.

summertime and they can't take that away from me are worth buying this cd alone-spectacular-besides these tunes are rest of the selections are only fantastic-an absolutely wonderful cd-a must have cd for any jazz lover

Well, what more can be said...Sims, Peterson, Pass, Mraz and Tate playing Gershwin...the hardest part is deciding which track I like best. Truth be told, they can't take this CD away from me and it would be a pity if you didn't add it to your collection. 'S Wonderful indeed!

The Gershwin brothers could have hoped for no greater tribute. Three of the grand masters of jazz - Zoot on tenor, Oscar Peterson on piano, and Joe Pass on guitar - backed up by no less than George Mraz on bass and Grady Tate on drums, gathered in a New York studio in 1975 to offer us 11 tracks of the Gershwins' most memorable tunes. The arrangements sound fresh and the performances are inspired.
There are many great highlights on this album, so I'll just mention a couple of them. The up-tempo swing version of "The Man I Love" is a very different interpretation than the one Zoot recorded (and received high praise for) almost two decades earlier, but it is equally satisfying. There are several great swingers in this session, but if you're looking for seduction songs, grab your significant other and slow-dance to "How Long Has This Been Going On," "I've Got a Crush on You," "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Isn't It a Pity," and best of all, "Embraceable You," in which Zoot is at his most brilliant.
Dozens of Zoot Sims recordings have been released on CD, making it hard to choose among them. If you want your collection to have the best possible representation of this jazz legend in the fewest CDs, I recommend getting this one and "That Old Feeling," which includes two full albums recorded in 1956 (see my review).

This is a very inspired and energetic interpretation by Zoot Sims of Gershwin classics. Zoot swings here with great excitement and attacks the famous tunes in a very inspired fashion. He is very well supported by Peterson, Pass, Mraz and Tate. This is without a doubt a classic recording date that takes you for a wonderful journey from track one to eleven. It is that good that after 50 minutes you wish there was more to come.

Recorded when Zoot Sims was 49 and obviously at the top of his form and feeling fine. Tasty piano licks and solid accompaniment are provided by Oscar Peterson. Joe Pass provides some nice guitar work, while solid rhythm is laid down by Grady Tate and George Mraz - who worked with Sims some in the 1950's, I believe. He contibutes a rare bowed solo on one of the cuts here.
Sims' inate sense of rhythm is why they called him a swinger. No matter the complexity or length of solo, Zoot would very rarely lose the beat or his "place". He had wonderful ideas of melodic composition in his improvisational work. And while he certainly can be said to have been strongly influenced by Lester Young, who was playing with Count Basie when Sims was growing up, Zoot was not a copy of anyone in his style. Most knowledgeable jazz buffs would count Zoot among the most accomplished tenor saxophonists of all time.
If you like small group jazz, this is some of the best to be had and will be enjoyed by most jazz fans.

Back in the 70's when my friends were being seduced into thinking that Steely Dan was somehow jazz, I was trading in my Rock records for real Jazz like this gem from Pablo. I first heard Zoot on the Phoebe Snow debut album as a sideman, immediately started looking for his recordings. Was blessed to catch him live at the Great American Music Hall a few times, twice with Phil Woods, they made a great team. There must be tapes of those gigs some where. I hope they are released some day.

Zoot always the consummate swinger, is supported here impeccably by four of the finest players of the day. All in fine form and apparently having a ball doing it. To me Zoot's Pablo years were his finest, in full swing, with beautiful tone, tastefully chosen material and sidemen. This all topped by well captured sound, not always the case in his 50's work. This has been my favorite as a whole, of all of those great Pablo albums. The interplay and obvious listening and reacting to the moment going on here, is a thing of beauty throughout this gem. From touching tenderness on the ballads, to moments of swagger that would make Ben Webster proud, all parties involved, fire on all cylinders, from start to finish.

Wait no longer, this has been out for 35 years, if you have missed it until now, correct the error immediately and order this. You will not regret it. Great jazz is hard to come by these days. Before you jump on the bandwagon, of what tries to pass for jazz these days, check out this and most of the Pablo catalogue from the 70's, perhaps the last golden age of Jazz.

Zoot Sims has become one of my favorite saxophonists lately. He has such a great understanding of swing, lyrical beauty, and melodic invention. He, also, always surround himself with some of the best musicians and "Zoot Sims And The Gershwin Brothers" is a fine example of this: Oscar Peterson on piano, Joe Pass on guitar, George Mraz on bass, and Grady Tate on drums. This recording is a fine example of Zoot's music and is a great place to start exploring his work. Although, I should warn you, once you buy and hear this album, you will want everything else he's done. Highly recommended.