Customer Reviews

Zoot at Ease

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The opening track, "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise" is worth the price of a CD alone. Prior to this I'd only heard Zoot Sims on tenor, but his soprano sax playing here is wonderful. This album also features Hank Jones, piano; Milt Hinton, bass; and Grady Tate and Louie Bellson on drums -- all notable jazz stars in their own right.

Originally this was recorded on the independent Famous Door label in 1973; it's re-released here with bonus alternate takes that are as excellent as the master tracks that were recorded.

This is terrific, straight-ahead small combo jazz performed by masters. Like all of Zoot's best music, it swings quietly but very very hard; he has such an innate sense of phrasing and rhythm that he's always a joy to listen to. Highly recommended.

Great playing from Zoot, in the prime of his career. The best sone is a wonderfully warm soprano sax rendition of Softly as in a Morning Sunrise. The CD features great tenor and soprano playing on a wide variety of tunes.

The bonus tracks are 5 alternate takes that add over 25 minutes to the original recording.

This is a great set for fans of Zoot's playing.

Tenor sax player Zoot Sims recorded this album in A&R Recording Studios in New York on May 30 and August 9 in 1973. The session has been produced by Harry Lim, who was a founder of a legendary Famous Door record label. These two sessions were one of the first efforts of the new Famous Door label. Zoot Sims at ease record appeared to be the most successful among the all 55 records of the independent Famous Door label. Harry Lim made a tremendous effort when he produced those high quality jazz albums during the 1970's and 1980's which were later regarded as the "dark ages" of the jazz. After Harry Lim passed away in 1991 the George H. Buck jr. Jazz Foundation made the acquisition of Harry Lim's Famous Door catalog and label. The first re-issue in a cd format in the Progressive label was particularly this Zoot Sims at ease. The cd version include 5 previous unreleased alternative takes recorded in the original sessions from the Famous Door vaults. Zoot Sims at ease is without a doubt one of the ignored pearls of the mainstream jazz. Zoot Sims plays both tenor and soprano and the rhythm section is splendid. The extraordinary quality of the original Famous Door recordings has been transmitted successfully into this Progressive cd. The result is highly recommended and I would rank this cd among the all time 100 essential jazz recordings. If you would find the original Famous Door vinyl from auctions, it would be also recommended. Hopefully Progressive records would reissue another pearls from the Famous Door vault in the Future.

I am a huge Zoot fan, and his playing here is as good as on his tenor. Rosemary's Baby is one of the best Soprano sax solos ever, every note is placed at the exact right place, his timing as always impecable.

I am a huge Zoot fan, and his playing here is as good as on his tenor. Rosemary's Baby is one of the best Soprano sax solos ever, every note is placed at the exact right place, his timing as always impecable.