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John Hicks & Co. just defines what it's all about swing & so

C. Katz | Peoples Republic Of Massachussettes | 12/25/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Not sure how I got this.Wasn't going to shell out $60.But now I am listening it may be worth any amount to those who love all jazz in all era's.Here Hicks known as one of the best post bop pianist of his era if not the best teams up in 1992 with masters of the swing/post swing era Clark Terry and Grady Tate on drums,as well as his 60's staring contemporary Ron Cater on Bass,and young guns Greg Gisbert assisting Terry on trumpet and lastly Joshua Redman on Tenor.This is what it's all about.Classic tunes of yesteryear like "I want To Talk About" by Eckstein,""It Don't Mean A Thing" by Ellington and Mills,"Makin' Whoopee" by Donaldson and Kahn,to "Nutty" by Monk and the leser heard "Rosetta" by Earl Hines and William Wood.The Cd is kicked off with a Hicks composition "Hicks Tone" and most Interestingly two great tues by Glen Osser and Bob Thiele "Bop Scotch" and and "True Blue".It'all played in a style that is timeless that would have sounded right in the Kansas City film Soundtrack trying to recapture the 30's era and at same time if you saw it in a club today you would marvel at how these differing generations combines this classicism with the utterly modern in phrasing.Bottom line is it swings like crazy and was worth the 4.5 stars that Kne Dryden gave it in all music guide as high as as any other list.I think Dryden is normally spot on but I would have given it that extra half Star.It's perfect and almost like a history class on jazz from song section to interpretation.Try to find one.

Cheers

Chazz"