Unlike most of his Pablo sessions, this
Zoot Sims CD is not a quartet outing but an opportunity for his tenor to be showcased while joined by a nine-piece group that includes six horns (three reeds among them).
Bill Holman's inventive arrangements are a large part as to why the date is successful but
Sims's playing on the five standards, two
Holman pieces and his own "Dark Cloud" should not be overlooked. Fortunately there is also some solo space saved for the talented sidemen (which include Oscar Brashear and Snooky Young on trumpets, trombonist
Frank Rosolino and the woodwinds and reeds of
Jerome Richardson,
Richie Kamuca and Bill Hood). A well-rounded set of swinging jazz. ~ Scott Yanow