An alto sax during the heyday of the swing era, Boots Mussulli was a star with Stan Kenton’s band before getting bit by the Charlie Parker bug and adding bop to his chops. This album collects his nifty work, and he also plays a bit of hip baritone on a handful of tracks.
The 1954 session has Boots with Ray Santisi/p, John Carter/b and Peter Litman, with his bright alto shining on his own “ Little Man” and “Rubber Boots” while his baritone gives gravitas to “Blues In The Night”. The same year with Shelly Manne/dr, Max Bennett/b and Santisi, his alto is moody on his own “El Morocco” and the big horn is a gas on a wild ride of “Tico Tico” and bouncy on “You Stepped Out Of A Dream”. In 1956, he’s with a Bud Powell-inspired Toshiko Akiyoshi/p, Wyatt Ruther/b and Ed Thigpen/p staying with the alto for a take of the pianist’s charming “Salute To Shorty” and a lyrical “All The Things You Are.”
In a day with most alto saxists lost in space, Mussulli serves as a pleasant reminder how a horn can actually sing bel canto and still drive through a wall.