Jazz ballads in the JATP style
Steve Emerine | Tucson, AZ United States | 07/29/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Gus Statiras and Norman Granz are gone now, but this Statiras album on his Progressive label carries on the Jazz at the Philharmonic recording tradition Granz presented for Verve. This disc presents seven-tune ballad melodies for tenor sax and trombone fans, plus one extended ensemble tune for each instrument. Recorded in 1977 as two LPs, the tunes were consolidated by New Orleans jazz producer George Buck into one 73-minute CD when he bought the Progressive label. New York-area jazz greats Scott Hamilton, Flip Phillips, Bennie Wallace, George Mraz, Derek Smith, Sir Roland Hanna, Bucky Pizzarelli and Jimmy Knepper play some outstanding JATP-style music on the ballad medlies and the extended tunes. You'll enjoy this one, and I also recommend other Progressive CDs Buck now offers, featuring Hamilton, Smith, Dave McKenna, John Bunch and other fine players."