Although as smooth and rich as its title portends,
Satin, Saxes and Bouncing Brass almost heralded the end of
Ted Heath's recording career; at first he refused to even consider the label execs' idea of adding strings to his big band jazz sound, and capitulated only after London Records dropped him from its roster. The completed album is in large part a showcase for the gifted arranger John Keating, whose lush yet nuanced charts successfully add the orchestral flourishes London heads sought while retaining the dynamic jazz sound of past
Heath efforts. In fact, Keating's horn arrangements are particularly inventive, as if compensating for their loss of face time. Warhorses like "Ebb Tide," "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" and "Moonlight Serenade" breathe new life into these elegant, contoured environs. ~ Jason Ankeny