Search - Bob Cooper :: Bob Cooper/Conte Candoli Quintet

West coast 93.how better to mix jazz generations...

trevor graham | bathurst, n.s.w. Australia | 06/14/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"recorded at one of californias respected jazz locations,the hyatt newporter,this "live" presentation by americas jazz station KLON reinvigorated my interest in west coast jazz and its legendary performers and eventually resulted in my flying to los angeles for the 1998 KLON 4 day masterworks/west coast 2 jazz convention.no musical slouches on this c.d with a quintet coled by trumpeter extroadinare Conte Condoli and the late great saxophonist Bob Cooper more than ably supported by Ross Tompkins on piano,John Leitham on bass and Paul Kreibich on drums.as an added bonus liner performance photos,usually on c.d.of minimul importance,are by Ray Avery and Conte Condoli and have a clarity that suppliment the music..tunes include the dynamic Charlie Parker tune "Confirmation",the sensitive Carl Fisher/Frankie Laine "we,ll be together again",a roaring straight ahead Sonny Rollins "airegin",Monks "hackensack" and Dizzys "ow!"the ballad work of Bob Cooper,always his trademark,is exceptional.Ross Tompkins piano solo on "airegin" reaffirms(if necessary) his place in this style of jazz,Conte Condoli missplaces not a note and these masters of straight ahead jazz are more than ably supported by l.a. club and studio stalwarts John Leitham on bass and Paul Kreibicn on drums..this 74 minute albumn has superior sound and celebrates all that was,and still is good about west coast jazz without falling into the obvious musical genre trap.a vital "now" c.d. that should be added to your collection for personal,not historical pleasure."

Coop's Last Stand: A Beauty

Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 08/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I believe this 1993 live session was Bob Cooper's last recording date (he died less than two months after it was made; leader mate Conte Candoli passed away in 2001), and he plays as well as he ever did in his illustrious career. The quintet (Ross Tompkins is on piano, John Leitham on bass, and Paul Kreibich on drums) wail away with joy and enthusiasm (and much talent) on a set of bebop classics (CONFIRMATION, TIN TIN DEO, AIREGIN, HACKENSACK, OW, CON ALMA), as well as some other gems: THINKING OF YOU, a tune dating from the 1920s, gives everyone a chance to shine. One of the most interesting selections is CON ALMA, a Dizzy Gillespie tune usually taken up-tempo, but here given over to trumpeter Candoli and done as a slow ballad - very nice indeed! Bob Cooper left a lasting legacy in the modern jazz world as performed on the left coast; there was obviously no decline in his playing as he neared the end of his life. That leaves this final recording as easy to recommend as any previous one."