ZOOT SIMS - The Rare Dawn Sessions (1956-1994) MONO | WV (image+.cue), lossless

This CD is a bit of a disappointment, not for the music but for the packaging. During 1979-1980, Biograph came out with two Zoot Sims LPs (One to Blow On and The Big Stampede) that contained 16 selections in all. But this CD just has ten of the songs, seven of the eight tunes from the first album (why did they leave out "September in the Rain"?) and three of the eight numbers from the second date. The incomplete nature of this reissue series is a pity for the music is excellent. Sims's tenor fits in very well with the valve trombone of Bob Brookmeyer during the earlier quintet date and also blends nicely with the cool-toned trumpet of Jerry Lloyd on the final three numbers. The music is swinging with Sims already starting to show an original musical personality built out of the sound of Lester Young. But the CD is only recommended to those listeners unable to find the two earlier LPs. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Down at the Loft 4:30
John Williams    
2     I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You 6:39
Bing Crosby / Ned Washington / Victor Young
3     Not So Deep 7:06
Zoot Sims    
4     Them There Eyes 6:02
Maceo Pinkard / Doris Tauber / William Tracey
5     Our Pad 4:46
Bob Brookmeyer / Buddy Johnson    
6     Dark Clouds 4:33
Zoot Sims    
7     One to Blow On 5:32
Zoot Sims    
8     You're My Girl 3:19
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne    
9     The Purple Cow 4:35
John Williams    
10     Bye Ya 3:45
Thelonious Monk
Credits :
Bass – Bill Anthony, Milt HInton (pistas: 1 to 7)
Drums – Gus Johnson (pistas: 8 to 10), Russ Johnson (pistas: 1 to 7)
Piano – John T. Williams
Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims
Trombone – Bob Brookmeyer (pistas: 1 to 7)
Trumpet – Jerry Lloyd (pistas: 8 to 10)

ZOOT SIMS QUINTET - The Modern Art Of Jazz (1956-1998) RM | WV (image+.cue), lossless

These early 1956 sessions feature Zoot Sims in top form playing a pair of standards and originals by members of the quintet. Bob Brookmeyer is the perfect foil for the tenor saxophonist, as they seamless interweave intricate lines throughout the record, especially in an upbeat take of "September in the Rain." Pianist John Williams contributed the cool "Down at the Loft" and solos brilliantly on every track. Brookmeyer penned the slinky "Our Pad" with drummer Gus Johnson, a track that would have fit a typical Gerry Mulligan date (with whom both Sims and Brookmeyer worked from time to time). Sims contributed three originals, but the hottest solos come in the closer, appropriately titled "One to Blow On." Anchoring the rhythm section is the great bassist Milt Hinton, who is easily identifiable after just a few notes during his solos. Though most of this music was reissued on the Biograph CD The Rare Dawn Sessions, "September in the Rain" was unjustly omitted, so serious fans of Zoot Sims will want to look for this rare LP as well. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     September in the Rain 5:08
Warren / Dubin
2     Down at the Loft 4:29
John T. Williams   
3     Ghost of a Chance 6:39
Young / Crosby / Washington   
4     No So Deep 7:04
Zoot Sims   
5     Them There Eyes 6:01
Maceo Pinkard / William Tracey   
6     Our Pad 4:44
Johnson / Brookmeyer   
7     Dark Clouds 4:33
Zoot Sims   
8     One to Blow On 5:31
Zoot Sims   
- BONUS TRACKS -
9     When the Blues Come On 4:39
Darwin / Cohn
10     Buried Gold 6:16
Zoot Sims   
Credits :
Bass – Milt Hinton
Drums – Gus Johnson
Piano – John Williams
Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims
Valve Trombone – Bob Brookmeyer

ZOOT SIMS QUARTET - That Old Feeling (1956-1995) WV (image+.cue), lossless

That Old Feeling compiles 14 songs cut at two 1956 dates, which were released on Argo and ABC-Paramount. At the sessions, Sims not only played tenor, but cut a few songs on alto and baritone sax as well. Rovi Staff
Tracklist :
1     9:20 Special 4:53
William Engvick / Earle Warren    
2     The Man I Love 5:14
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin    
3     55th and State 4:42
Zoot Sims    
4     The Blue Room 5:08
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers    
5     Bohemia After Dark 3:34
Oscar Pettiford    
6     Gus's Blues 4:28
Gus Johnson    
7     That Old Feeling 5:34
Lew Brown / Sammy Fain    
8     Woody 'N You 5:21
Dizzy Gillespie    
9     Blinuet 4:35
George Handy    
10     The Trouble With Me Is You 3:44
George Handy / Jack Segal    
11     Zonkin' 5:46
George Handy    
12     Noshin' 3:26
George Handy    
13     Minor-Minor 4:03
Flo Handy
14     Pegasus 3:58
George Handy
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Zoot Sims (pistas: 5)
Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Zoot Sims (pistas: 9, 11 to 14)
Bass – Nabil Totah
Drums – Gus Johnson
Piano – John Thomas Williams
Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims (pistas: 1 to 4, 6 to 8, 10)

STAN GETZ - At the Shine (1954-2004) Universal Jazz The Best | MONO | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tenor Stan Getz and valve-trombonist Bob Brookmeyer made a mutually beneficial team. Although they had not played together all that much in 1954 (Brookmeyer had left Getz's band earlier in the year to join the Gerry Mulligan Quartet), the strong musical communication between the two horns during this set is obvious. Eight of the ten selections are from a live concert (with pianist John Williams, bassist Bill Anthony, and drummer Art Mardigan) while the final two numbers (on what was originally a pair of LPs) were cut in the studio the following day with the same personnel except that Frank Isola was on drums. Highlights of this cool-toned bop music (which, in addition to the solos, has many exciting ensembles) include "Lover Man," "Pernod," "Tasty Pudding," and "It Don't Mean a Thi
ng." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Framingo 8:46
Edmund Anderson / Ted Grouya
2     Lover Man 5:26
Jimmy Davis / Roger "Ram" Ramirez / Jimmy Sherman
3     Pernod 6:43
Johnny Mandel
4     Tasty Pudding 8:15
Al Cohn
5     I'll Remember April 8:28
Gene DePaul / Patricia Johnston / Don Raye
6     Polka Dots and Moonbeams 4:00
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
7     Open Country 5:54
Bob Brookmeyer
8     It Don't Mean a Thing 6:19
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
9     We'll Be Together Again 8:46
Carl Fischer / Frankie Laine
10     Feather Merchant 8:17
Count Basie / James Mundy / Jimmy Mundy
Credits :
Bass – Bill Anthony
Drums – Art Mardigan (faixas: 1 to 8), Frank Isola (faixas: 9, 10)
Piano – John T. Williams
Tenor Saxophone – Stan Getz
Valve Trombone – Bob Brookmeyer