Tenor saxist Ernie Krivda shows that he knows how to swing on this album of jazz standards and originals. He mixes and matches with a team of kindred spirits of Steve Enos/tp, Chris Anderson-Gary Carney/tb, Joe Hunter/p, Brian Thomas-Marion Hayden/b, Lee Bush/g and John Bacon-Ray Porrello/dr for some to tapping takes.
Krivda’s tenor is warm and strong, bringing a bop feel to the peppy “Limehouse Blues” with a dash of Ben Webster breathiness predominant on his own elegant “Easter Blue.” Both drummers catch the Gene Krupa bug with his sing sing singing tom toms grooving out intros to pieces such as Ellington’s “Caravan,” Krivda’s “A Bright and Shining Moment” and “The Good Lady” while getting swampy on an almost R&Bish read of Gershwin’s “Summertime.” The reeds and brass moans wonderfully on “The Mooche” while the leader is cozy on “Two Sleepy People” and suave during “Roses.” Classic sounds with no nostalgia.