BUD SHANK · BOB COOPER — Blowin' Country (1959-1998) West Coast Classics Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

West Coast jazz of the 1950s has long had a bad reputation in jazz history books and among East Coast jazz writers who have stereotyped it as an overarranged and bloodless music best heard in movie soundtracks of the era. In reality, it was a multifaceted style, a smoothing of bebop's rough edges that could often be hard-swinging even with its quiet rhythm sections. Two of the finest West Coast players of the '50s were Bud Shank and Bob Cooper. Shank, a cool-toned altoist who on this 1998 CD also plays flute and tenor, appeared on many dates with Coop, who triples here on tenor, bass clarinet and oboe. Despite the CD title (named after a Shank original), the music that they perform on these selections from 1958 (plus five added numbers from 1956) is not country music but swinging jazz. Teamed with either pianist Claude Williamson or guitarist Howard Roberts, bassist Don Prell and drummer Chuck Flores, Shank and Cooper display distinctive but complementary styles, and their tripling on woodwinds gives plenty of variety to the date. Cooper's oboe playing, which preceded Yusef Lateef's, in particular is a joy. Highly recommended. Scott Yanow  
Tracklist :
1. Dinah 3:18
Harry Akst / Sam M. Lewis / Joe Young
2. Mutual Admiration Society 3:45
Matt Dubey / Harry Karr
3. Steve Allen Theme 4:08
Steve Allen
4. I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face 2:42
Alan Jay Lerner / Frederick Loewe
5. Blowin' Country 6:15
Bud Shank
6. Love Nest 3:13
Otto Harbach / Walter Hirsch
7. As Long as There's Music 3:41
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
8. Just in Time 3:42
Betty Comden / Adolph Green / Jule Styne
9. Two Lost Souls 3:44
Richard Adler / Jerry Ross
10. Thanks for the Memory 4:30
Ralph Rainger / Leo Robin
11. A Romantic Guy, I 3:34
Bob Cooper / Bud Shank
12. Sweet Georgia Brown 3:41
Kenneth Casey / Maceo Pinkard
13. Gypsy in My Soul 3:23
Clay Boland / Moe Jaffe
14. I Want to Be Happy 2:31
Irving Caesar / Vincent Youmans
15. What'll I Do? 2:45
Irving Berlin
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Bud Shank
Bass – Don Prell
Drums – Chuck Flores
Guitar – Howard Roberts (tracks: 12 to 15)
Piano – Claude Williamson (tracks: 1 to 11)
Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Oboe – Bob Cooper