Zoot Sims and the Gershwin Brothers

By all accounts Zoot should stand a head and shoulders over his accompanists on this session. I've never really been a fan of Joe Pass or Oscar Peterson. Yet somehow everyone manages to sound inspired on this fantastic session. Zoot Sims plays like he is having the time of his life, perhaps because of the material, there is certainly something to be said for the Gershwins legacy. It must have been infectious because the normally stoic Peterson actually sounds as though he is enjoying himself.

Of all the Gershwin themed lps in my collection, this is probably the one I like the most.

This lp was recorded the day before my 17th birthday. I wonder what I would have thought of it then?

Zoot Sims
and the Gershwin Brothers

1. The Man I Love
2. How Long Has This Been Going On
3. Lady Be Good
4. I've Got A Crush On You
5. I Got Rhythm
6. Embraceable You
7. 'S Wonderful
8. Someone To Watch Over Me
9. Isn't It A Pity
10. Summertime

Zoot Sims - tenor sax
Oscar Peterson - piano
Joe Pass - guitar
George Mraz - bass
Grady Tate - drums

Pablo 2310-744

Dizzy Gillespie's Big 4

Hide the kids, cover the bird, put the dog out. You're going to have to turn this lp up. Rest assured Dizzy is going to wail. Not like he did 25 years earlier, but the man can entertain.

I can only believe that when these guys first met, Diz referenced Sonny Rollins' lp The Bridge. Not a tribute nor an imitation of that lp, Diz used the same line up and came up with a record that felt the same way.

This record never received the acclaim of The Bridge. I doubt if that was it's aspiration. A smoking session that is so over looked it is criminal.

One of my favorite covers, this shot from the recording session. You see the fun, you can only imagine the fire.

As with all these Pablo records, who've thunk it?

Dizzy Gillespie's Big 4

1. Tanga
2. Hurry Home
3. Russian Lullaby
4. BeBop (Dizzy's Fingers)
5. Birk's Works
6. September Song
7. Jitterbug Waltz

Dizzy Gillespie - trumpet
Ray Brown - bass
Joe Pass - guitar
Mickey Roker - drums

produced by Norman Granz
recorded 09/19/74

Pablo 2310 719

Zoot Sims and Jimmy Rowles

Another of those understated Pablo records. Granz' ability to match artists was beyond reknown at this point, yet he still managed to come up with new and interesting combinations.

Here we get two fellows who had reached some critical fame earlier in their careers but somehow never managed to capture the public eye. Both remained understated and under appreciated all their lives.

This may have been the session where it dawned on me that some of these records were worth having. I was enthralled with Stan Getz' records and had recently discovered Peacocks with him and Rowles. I had never heard Rowles before but was suitably impressed. I didn't realize that later I would find Zoot Sims far more interesting than Stan Getz. I bought the record, I dug it and I filed it away.

Somewhat later when I was digging Zoot's special brand of cool, I pulled this out. Today I do not see it as anything groundbreaking like I might have back then, but I do know it's importance in my jazz education. And it's still a swell record.

And Neil Hefti's Legs has got to be one of the greatest examples of an evergreen that I know.

Zoot Sims meets Jimmy Rowles
If I'm Lucky

1. (I Wonder) Where Our Love Has Gone
2. Legs
3. If I'm Lucky
4. Shadow Waltz
5. You're My Everything
6. It's All Right With Me
7. Gypsy Sweetheat
8. I Hear A Rhapsody

Zoot Sims - tenor sax
Jimmy Rowles - piano
George Mraz - bass
Mousie Alexander - drums

produced by Norman Granz
recorded 27 and 28 October 1977 Pablo 2310 803

Basie and Zoot

When I was younger I spent many an hour digging through crates looking for Black Lion releases. Those were the shit. Even though a lot of these same artists were appearing on these Pablo releases, I just thought they would not be cool.

Jazz was not cool back then. At least not what I perceived as current jazz. I was lost - and generally stoned most of the time. I thought these Pablo records would sound kinda..well I thought I would be bored. Youth has a way of screwing you. I remember these records in cut out bins for .99. Bet I coulda zoned out just fine.

Damn shame. These are some very fine sessions. I'm gonna put a few up and I'm hoping you'll find something you like. All from vinyl...

We'll start here...

Basie and Zoot

1. I Never Knew
2. It's Only A Paper Moon
3. Blues for Nat Cole
4. Captain Bligh
5. Honeysuckle Rose
6. Harday
7. Mean To Me
8. I Surrender, Dear

Count Basie - piano and organ
Zoot Sims - tenor sax
John Heard - bass
Louis Bellson - drums

produced by Norman Granz
NYC, April 9, 1975

Pablo 2310-745