Tenor saxophonists
Harry Allen and
Scott Hamilton are veterans who have occasionally shared the stage and recorded together, a complementary pairing reminiscent of the team of
Al Cohn and
Zoot Sims. For these 2012 sessions, the two tenorists are joined by pianist
Rosanno Sportiello, bassist
Joel Forbes, and drummer
Chuck Riggs, all of whom, like the co-leaders, are regulars on the jazz party circuit. The songs selected include a mix of standards, jazz favorites, and a handful of obscurities. Their relaxed interpretation of the old chestnut "My Melancholy Baby" is anything but hackneyed, with a conversation between the two tenors. The hard-driving bop setting of Rodgers & Hart's "Lover" showcases how well the tenor men complement one another's playing, with
Forbes' potent bass work driving them. The standard "Baubles, Bangles and Beads" was a favorite of
Gerry Mulligan; this version transforms it into an easygoing bossa nova. The breathy vibrato in the robust setting of "'Round Midnight" recalls the great
Ben Webster. One hidden gem is the brisk, swinging take of
Neal Hefti's "Flight of the Foo Birds" (the title was inspired by an old joke with a Spoonerism punch line), written for
Count Basie and long forgotten.
Allen's punchy "Great Scott" is a reworking of "Indiana" that was inspired by a riff he heard
Hamilton play; together they swing like mad. This rewarding release proves there is still plenty of life left in two-tenor record dates. ~ Ken Dryden