Al Cohn Live @ The Half Note Again CD

VIGOR AND INSPIRATION. Zoot Sims epitomizes consistency, and in any size of group, with good, bad or indifferent accompaniment, he is never less than good, almost always excellent, frequently exceptional. Sims is the embodiment of swing, bearing down hard on the beat and carrying all before him, irrespective of theme or tempo. This CD is an ideal homage dedicated to Zoot Sims, a jazz musician who was always an antihero and one of the most rhythmically engaging and lyrical straightahead saxophonists on the circuit between the 1950s and 1980s. All the tracks were recorded in 1965 with AI Cohn at New York's famous Half Note club, where both performed regularly and became very popular from the late fifties. Seven of the tracks are from a quintet session with AI and Zoot with pianist Roger Kellaway, bassist Bill Crow, and drummer Mel Lewis. The remaining three titles were recorded the fall of the same year by a similar quintet with Richie Kamuca as a third tenorist guest star, a rhythm section with Dave Frishberg on piano, Tommy Potter on bass and Mel Lewis on drums, and, on one title, the special appearance of blues singer Jimmy Rushing. This group plays three old standards: "Broadway," "Tickle Toe" and "I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me." Lone hill jazz. 2006