Search - Shorty Rogers, Bud Shank :: Yesterday Today & Forever

"Cool" Still Sounds Great....

Robert J. Ament | Ballwin, MO United States | 07/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"especially the West Coast Cool!



This was Shorty's first recording,under his name in this country, in twenty years, having devoted himself mostly to composition (three of the seven in this set are his!).It doesn't sound as though he lost anything in his ability to play.



Actually, Bud Shank seems to upstage him a little bit with a dynamite alto performance of Strayhorn's "Blood Count" and on flute on the Roger's beautiful original, "Lotus Bud".



Enough can't be said about the rhythm section. They show up best on the all-too-short "TNT". George Cables has to be an under appreciated pianist judging by his short solo on this. Bob Magnusson's bass shows up well on several cuts, especially on the entries to the title cut, "TNT", and the rhythm entry on the unlikely choice, "Wagon Wheels". The crisp drum work of McCurdy shows up throughout the entire set.



"Budo", known from Miles Davis and Gerry Mulligan, may be cool.....but it's hot here!. The title cut has a catchy beat and swings well with the horns in real good form. The closer, "Have You Hugged Your Martian Today", is a humorous bop piece but relly has some excellent bass work by Magnusson working with Shank's flute.....outstanding!



In all, this cd is a very pleasing example of WestCoast jazz and the cool school with the musicians seeming to be inspired by each other's playing. Well recommended for fans of Cool, Bop, West Coast style, Bud Shank, Shorty Rogers, or just plain good quintet jazz.



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