Just when you thought it was safe to say you’ve heard every bebopping alto saxist…
Here comes some more detective work from Fresh Sound Records. Who ever even heard of alto saxist Mouse Bonati (who has one of the hippest names around). His story is a familiar one, being a brilliant Bird inspired saxist who developed “personal” problems before drifting into a regular gig in Vegas. Here’s his arguably best and swingingest sessions, cut back in 1954, 55, 62 and even 1981, giving you just about everything that Bonati served.
Things start with Bonati as a session man in flugelhornist Jack Martins Octette with pianist Frank Stazzeri, and the team is wild on “Scherzo”. Leading his own sextet, he double-times on “Back”, goes wild on “Improvisation” and swings on “Mouse’s House”. Back with Strazzeri in 62, Bonato forms an impressive front line with trumpeter Carmell Jones on a bluesy “New Orleans”, a hip “Injun Joe” and fun “Kids Delight”. Jump forward a score of years, and Dan Terry’s Big Band brings in Nelson Riddle-ish charts for “Jasmine”, and Rat Pack-ish “Tuxedo Junction” and “Stompin’ At The White House”. All throughout, Bonati definitely carried the Bird Bug, but he made it his own, and he made it work well. Definitely worth a second look.
https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/mouse-bonati-albums/55873-portrait-of-a-jazz-hero.html