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ZOOT SIMS Love for Sale Nagel Heyer CD 102

 
1. Softly as in a Morning Sunrise
2. I'll remember April
3. Jean
4. Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me/In a Mellotone
5. In the Middle of a Kiss
6. Love for Sale
7. Emily
Zoot Sims- Soprano sax, tenor sax
Noel Kelehan - Piano
Jimmy McKay - Bass
John Wadham - Drums

One of the ways that jazz musicians make a living is to travel around, playing in clubs and pubs with local rhythm sections. Sometimes this can be a trial for the visiting musician, who is saddled with an unsuitable backing group. Thankfully, that was not the case when American saxophonist Zoot Sims visited Dublin for the Kilkenny Arts Festival in 1978. The rhythm section is not only competent but sometimes remarkably impressive. Pianist Noel Kelehan is a fine accompanist and soloist, while drummer John Wadham provides good old-fashioned swing and some shapely solos. Bassist Jimmy McKay is recorded rather low down in the mix but he fulfils his role efficiently.

This is one a series of previously-unreleased albums recorded in Dublin, and it makes one look forward to future releases. Zoot Sims plays soprano and tenor saxes with his usual relaxed charm, and he chooses some good tunes, like the little-known Jean and the more familiar Emily - both gentle, melodic waltzes. The faster tunes swing as well, with Sims making his sax sound like a clarinet on Softly as in a Morning Sunrise (or was he actually playing the clarinet? - no such instrument is mentioned on the sleeve). There are some of those awkward moments that often occur when the soloist has never played with the rhythm section before. Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me stops abruptly after less than a minute and turns into In a Mellotone because one of the musicians is unhappy. But once the group gets into the groove, the tune cooks warmly. The quartet is clearly enjoying itself during Love For Sale, as the performance continues for more than 15 minutes.

The recording is of variable quality, with I'll Remember April sounding fuzzy. And there is a certain amount of background noise and overheard chat. But overall this is a good club session that will have you tapping your feet as well as enjoying Zoot Sims' mellow inventiveness

Tony Augarde

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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