Search - Pete Jolly :: Pete Jolly Trio and Friends

A Jolly Good Time

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 12/12/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I didn't know much about Pete Jolly before I found this CD used in the Amazon Markeplace for the bargain price of just over three bucks, shipping included! Sure, he featured on a few albums that I own -- Chet Baker's The Route, Lennie Niehaus, Vol. 3: The Octet, Pt. 2 and most notably Art Pepper's sensational Smack Up -- but I had no idea that his musical (if not jazz) credits included writing the themes and/or soundtracks to many successful television programs, among them MASH, Archie Bunker, The Love Boat, The Odd Couple, Get Smart and Dallas! While DVDs abound for the TV shows, VSOP has been kind enough to rescue several rare sides the pianist originally made for the Ava label in 1963 and '64. The selections are split between a solid quartet date, featuring regular trio cohorts Chuck Berghofer on bass and Larry Bunker on drums, with guitarist Howard Roberts joining in (for a good time, check out his Good Pickin's on Verve), and a less inspiring orchestral outing, though the band features the likes of Bud Shank, Bill Perkins and Barney Kessel. Overall, this is was good pickup for the price, though "The Pete Jolly Trio and Friends" would have been a bit more jolly without the strings."