The slightly unusual date Two Jims and a Zoot features tenor saxophonist
Zoot Sims interacting with two guitarists (
Jimmy Raney and
Jim Hall) while given subtle support by bassist
Steve Swallow and drummer
Osie Johnson. Although the eight selections (none of which caught on as standards) had all been written recently and sometimes display the influence of bossa nova, the quiet performances could pass for 1954 rather than 1964. The cool-toned improvisations and boppish playing have a timeless quality about them although for the time period aspects of this music already sounded a bit old-fashioned.