AS HIP AS HE WAS
Jonathan A. wang | scotch plains, new jersey United States | 10/30/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"THIS IS A LIVE HAYES SET - AND THOUGH THE RECORDING QUALITY IS A BIT UNEVEN DUE TO POOR MIC PLACEMENT(PROBABLY AN OLD PORTABLE REEL TO REEL) TUBBY'S SOLO ON "AS CLOSE AS YOU ARE" IS AN ABSOLUTE GEM. THE TUNE IS A MEDIUM TEMPO SWINGER WITH THE RHYTHM SECTION LAYING DOWN A VERY HEAVY GROOVE. HAYES SOLO IS A STUNNING MUSICAL DRAMA FEATURING BEAUTIFULLY LYRICAL PHRASES INTERPOSED WITH HIS LOCOMOTIVE LIKE DOUBLE TIMING. THE SOLO - MORE THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS PROVES AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT TUBBY WAS ONE THE MOST COMPELLING JAZZ INSTRUMENTALISTS - EVER - AND CERTAINLY ONE OF THE GREATEST TENOR PLAYERS - AND YES THAT INCLUDES ROLLINS, COLTRANE AND DEXTER AND ALL THE REST. IF THE RECORDING QUALITY WERE BETTER THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN FIVE STARS."