Back in the 1950s, you could throw a rock at a street corner in Philly, NYC or LA and probably hit a member of a jazz trio. The surfeit of boppers made bands like those led by pianists Tony Luis and Bob Freedman go unnoticed at the time, but this reissue of their albums makes up for lost time.
Philly born Luis teams up with Ronny Andrews/b and Hank Nanni/dr for some bebopping work. Luis drank deep from the waters of Bud Powell, amply demonstrated on his own “Un Poco Fresco” that sounds like an inspiration from “Un Poco Loco”, while “Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea” bounces with delight. The digits dance on “Lullaby Of The Leaves” and sway to “Gone With The Wind”. Confident chords. Bob Freedman, meanwhile, has a more uptown graceful touch, akin to Andre Previn and Red Garland. He uses space well on “Autumn In New York” and restraining on “Imagination”, with style and blues on “Sophisticated Lady” and romance on “Deep Purple”. Lyrical ideas. Who plays like this anymore?