Rating:
Genre:
Jazz
Release Date: 07/12/2005
The odds were against this recording being half as rewarding as it turned out. The late saxophonist
Spike Robinson, one of the last of the great
Four Brothers-style cool-toned tenors, had originally planned a tribute to
Stan Getz utilizing former
Getz sidemen pianist
John Williams, bassist
Bill Crow, and drummer
Frank Isola during a tour of England. At the last minute,
Isola's erratic health meant that he had to be replaced for the trip. In addition,
Robinson's tenor was stolen (and never found) during the tour and he had to get used to a borrowed horn. But despite those obstacles the recording is quite excellent, with
Spike Robinson heard in prime form on a variety of
standards (some better known than others) and such obscurities as
Gene Ammons'
"Waterjug," "If She Walked into My Life," and
John Williams'
"Have Blue Zoot, Will Travel." The acoustic guitar of
Louis Stewart is also an asset whenever he appears.
Spike Robinson never made a bad recording and this is one of his finest ones.
~Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
;)
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