Search - Jack Sheldon, Walter Norris :: Quartet & The Quintet

West Coast Cool

William Faust | Columbus, Ohio | 07/13/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jack Sheldon is an enigma to me because as I listen to these 1954/1955 Pacific Jazz recordings I can't fathom why he didn't get wider recognition. But the answer may be two words - Chet Baker. Sheldon I think had the unfortunate timing to come on the west coast cool scene at the same time as Baker but didn't have his boyish good looks or melt-away voice which in part vaulted Baker to international acclaim. But Sheldon is a fabulous trumpeter with a unique fuzzy tone quality that is complimented perfectly here on tracks 12-19 by Zoot Sims. This CD is a comination of two sessions featuring mostly up tempo charts - some blues, a few standards but mostly west coast originals in the genre made famous by Baker and Mulligan. But Sheldon holds his own here with a great rhythm section on both sessions as well as Simms and Joe Maini on alto on a few cuts. If you like Chet, Gerry, Shorty Rogers or Bill Perkins you'll love this classic."