Stretching Out

ズート・シムズ=ボブ・ブルックマイヤーによる双頭コンボによる〈UNITED ARTISTS〉の人気盤『STRETCHING OUT』です。もちろんボーナス・トラックが入っております、ボブ・ブルックマイヤー『Kansas City』。こちらも〈UNITED ARTISTS〉の人気盤、演奏も実に小気味よいスイングを聴かせてくれる名作です。見開きの内側に『Kansas City』のジャケット/裏ジャケが入ってまして裏返すと『Kansas City』早変わりします。

Like many studio sessions recorded for United Artists, this 1958 session co-led by Zoot Sims and Bob Brookmeyer can be a bit tricky to find. Brookmeyer contributed most of the charts, including the easygoing blues which serves as the title track, as well as updated treatments of Jelly Roll Morton's "King Porter Stomp" and "Ain't Misbehavin'." Al Cohn is responsible for a swinging chart of "Pennies from Heaven" during which he switches to baritone sax, while Bill Potts wrote and arranged "Bee Kay." The rest of the superb band includes Harry "Sweets" Edison, Hank Jones, bassist Eddie Jones, guitarist Freddie Green, and drummer Charlie Persip. Aside from a few innocuous reed squeaks, the music is essentially flawless and has stood the test of time very well. Although U.S. reissues have been sparse, Fresh Sound re-released an LP of this music and Toshiba also put out a CD edition in Japan. In any case, fans of cool jazz will want to locate a copy of this session. ~ Ken Dryden|