I’m willing to bet that 90% of you readers have never heard of bassist Sam Jones (1924-81), but at one time he was the most in-demand hard bop guys around, usually teamed up with drummer Louis Hayes, but always serving up sensational support in bands lead by Cannonball and Nat Adderley, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell…well, you get the picture. He also released some nifty albums of his own. This album by the tm of bassist Kent Miller along with Darius Scott/p, Greg Holloway/dr and snazzy front line of tenorist Benny Russell and alto saxist Antonio Parker is a throwback to vintage Riverside or Blue Note albums when the swinging was easy.
Just about everyone gets a chance to give a solo intro, with Miller giving a soulful handoff to the shuffling gospel groove of “Some More Of Dat”, Scott delicately caressing the ivories before giving the baton to rich toned Parker during “Lillie” and Holloway serving up crispy critters on the snappy “Del Sasser”. Holloway is in high hat heaven for the sizzling “Bittersuite,” Russell flexes his biceps on the ultra muscular “Unit Seven” that cruises like a V8 and the horns lock like gazelles on “Tragic Magic” and “O.P.” If you wonder what “vintage” jazz is supposed to sound like, give this one a listen; you’ll thank me some day.