Like many Americans who opt to live and work in Europe, the recorded legacy of multi-reed player
Sahib Shihab tends to be overlooked by fans in his native land.
Sentiments pairs recordings he made for two separate albums between 1965 and 1971. On the 1971 session, he's accompanied by fellow expatriate
Kenny Drew, bassist
Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, and drummer
Jimmy Hopps. Most of the compositions are by the leader, starting with the exotic blend of hard bop and African rhythm, featuring
Shihab's dancing soprano sax and
Pedersen's bass solo.
Drew switches to organ and
Pedersen makes a relatively rare appearance on electric bass on the funky "Sentiments." The leader switches to baritone sax for
Drew's exuberant ballad "Extase." The 1965 sessions feature
Shihab as a guest with the Danish Radio Jazz Group, playing six of his originals. "Di-Da" is a catchy hard bop tune in which one note is repeatedly echoed by members of the group, though the pattern disappears as he launches his powerful baritone sax. The moody "Tenth Lament" and the perky "Harvey's Tune" are also highlights, with
Shihab switching to flute for the latter piece. The supporting cast has a number of top European musicians, including
Niels Pedersen, pianist
Bent Axen, trumpeters
Palle Mikkelborg and
Allan Botschinsky, and drummer
Alex Riel.