Search - Nat King Cole :: Anatomy Of A Jam Session

A curiousity, but not vital to casual jazz fans...

William E. Adams | Midland, Texas USA | 05/17/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is a complete record of a session involving five players in the summer of 1945. Since two of the musicians were Nat King Cole and drummer Buddy Rich, the tracks have interest beyond the era in which they were made. No Cole vocals here...just some cool piano playing, and I must say the other three artists are also good. However, unless one is a jazz fanatic or a Cole/Rich "completist" the disc isn't a prize item. The false starts are irritating and add nothing to listening pleasure. FOUR versions in a row of a tune called "Black Market Stuff" seemed two too many for my taste. There are then THREE versions of "Laguna Leap", two of "I'll Never Be the Same" and two more of "Swingin' on Central." The CD concludes with a nearly seven-minute number called "Kicks." This session came as "Swing" was giving way to "Bebop" so it offers a pre-war and a post-war flavor. Nat Cole and Buddy Rich deserve their fame, but "Anatomy of a Jam Session" is more gimmick than glamour in today's market."