Search - Ralph Burns :: Where Theres Burns Theres Fi

Weird sound experiment buries great jazz potential

Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 03/24/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"
This seems more an experiment in what's billed on the cover as "3 Dimensional Stereo" than a jazz album, something that was more common than necessary back during the early days of stereo (this album was recorded in 1960). At the beginning of each track there's some tremendously annoying left and right channel ping-pong-like back and forth sound games going on, not exactly the way stereo was supposed to function. Usually after a little bit of this things straighten out, but not entirely. Fortunately, Burns brought along some top-notch soloists and allows them to blow here and there, but not nearly enough. LOVE FOR SALE, has some excellent Zoot Sims on alto (he also solos effectively on tenor on STRIKE UP THE BAND); ALL OF YOU features Al Cohn's tenor; and Urbie Green takes a few decent trombone solos on a couple of tunes. The CD's not a total disaster, but is not close to its potential. Too bad Fresh Sounds didn't scrap the fake stereo and reissue it in straight mono."