Here’s a release that is like finding a precious photo album you thought was lost for years while cleaning out your garage. Vibist Peter Appelyard made his name playing with Benny Goodman’s band in the 70s, and one evening after a Goodman gig at Carnegie Hall with Slam Stewart, Hank Jones, Zoot Sims, Urbie Green, Bobby Hackett and Grady Tate, he decided to bring the band sans clarinetist (and replaced Tate with Mel Lewis) over to studio, ordered some Chinese food to go around, and had one of the most relaxed recording sessions you’d ever want. Here are some of the best mainstream gents, mellowed out after a gig, and just having fun. What more could a fan want?
The disc (which includes spoken intros and instructions, as well as 25 minutes of outtakes and missed starts) has some loose and lively swinging ensemble sessions as on “After You’ve Gone,” but the emphasis here is on giving each star a spotlight, and letting him shine, and boy, do they sparkle!!! Bobby Hackett’s horn agonizes over “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” while Stewart jives and bows with effervescence on “Indiana.” Urbie Green is sliding slick on “Tangerine,” and Sims caresses his horn like no one else can in these days of double-timing chatterboxes on a lugubrious “You Go To My Head.” Hank Jones closes out the session with aplomb, skating along like Scott Hamilton on “Dancing On The Ceiling.” This disc, just like the old photo album, reflects a different world, a different worldview and set of values. Can you imagine any seven jazz guys under 40 doing something like this? I shudder to think.
Linus Records