ZOOT SIMS - In A Mellow Tone (1981-1996) 2CD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Like all of the CDs recorded at the long defunct E.J.'s in Atlanta, this two-CD set documents a national artist's (in this case, Zoot Sims) one-nighter accompanied by local talent, though the recording quality of this bootleg would be considered average at best, due to the over-modulations of the recording. Since Sims was joined by musicians whom he wasn't regularly working with, the songs are a mix of familiar standards ("All the Things You Are" and "Over the Rainbow") and jazz classics ("Take the 'A' Train," "The Jitterbug Waltz," and "In a Mellow Tone"). Tenor saxophonist Rick Bell sits in with Sims during the first set, though he would have been better off to have played just one number and hit the trail, as he isn't in the same league as the visiting star, proving especially inept on "Emily." The rhythm section fares much better, especially pianist Yancey Korosi, who provides excellent backing for Sims and proves to be a competent soloist, too. The leader switches to soprano sax for a driving, samba-flavored take of "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise" and a very exotic rendition of "Caravan." While this bootleg shouldn't be considered an essential part of Zoot Sims' sizable discography, it is worth picking up if found for a reasonable price. Ken Dryden  
Tracklist 1 :
1     Groovin' High 7:57
Dizzy Gillespie    
2     Emily 8:42
Johnny Mandel / Johnny Mercer
3     All the Things You Are 10:07
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern    
4     Take the "A" Train 6:32
Billy Strayhorn    
5     Lester Leaps In 8:12
Lester Young    
6     The Girl from Ipanema 6:37
Norman Gimbel / Antônio Carlos Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes
Tracklist 2 :
1     That Old Devil Called Love 6:26
Doris Fisher / Allan Roberts    
2     The Jitterbug Waltz 5:24
Richard Maltby, Jr. / Fats Waller    
3     Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise 7:32
Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg
4     Over the Rainbow 11:15
Harold Arlen / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg    
5     In a Mellow Tone 7:37
Duke Ellington / Milt Gabler    
6     I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) 4:06
Duke Ellington / Paul Francis Webster    
7     Caravan 4:28
Deuter / Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Juan Tizol
Credits :
Bass – Dewey Sampson
Drums – James Martin
Piano – Yancey Korosi
Tenor Saxophone – Rick Bell (pistas: 1-1 to 1-6)
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Zoot Sims