Always a bit underrated,
Bob Cooper (best-known for his fine tenor saxophone playing) was the first significant jazz improviser on oboe and English horn. This out-of-print LP features
Coop in 1955 playing all three of his axes with a couple of overlapping all-star West Coast jazz groups. The octets consist of either
Stu Williamson (on trumpet and valve trombone) or
John Graas on French horn,
Bob Enevoldsen tripling on valve trombone, tenor and bass clarinet,
Bud Shank on flute, alto and tenor,
Jimmy Giuffre on clarinet, tenor and baritone, pianist
Claude Williamson, either
Joe Mondragon,
Max Bennett or
Ralph Pena on bass, and
Stan Levey or
Shelly Manne on drums. The music is all arranged by
Cooper and ranges from inventive reworkings of standards to jazz chamber music; despite the cool tones, the results are consistently exciting. These high-quality performances will hopefully be reissued on CD, for they feature
Bob Cooper in prime form. A little-known gem, with this version of "'Round Midnight" (one of the highlights) showcasing
Cooper's English horn.