While best known as the saxist for the 1960s James Brown Fabulous Flames, tenor man Pee Wee Ellis shows on this two disc set that he was a jazzer at heart. He’s got a gloriously warm breathy tone, and teamed with Dwayne Dolphin/b and Bruce Cox/dr delivers bel canto reads of material ranging from John Coltrane to Peggy Lee.
He swoons with the blues on “Stablemates”, bops with delight on “Groovin’ High” and “Doxy”, coos on the Latin cutie “Manana” and gives an aria under the spotlight for “Sophisticated Lady”. Subtle swing on “In A Mellow Tone” rolls in like a fog, while his own “Tag Along” and “Do Dee Dum Diddy” are bon mots of joy. How did I miss this guy? WHEW! Any transcripts out there?!?