Although it has not gotten the publicity that his Columbia and Verve CDs received, this is one of the finest of all
Doc Cheatham albums. Age 88 at the time,
Cheatham had not lost a thing and plays miraculously well. He is teamed up with clarinetist Brian O'Connell, pianist Butch Thompson, Les Muscutt (doubling on guitar and banjo), Bill Huntington (on bass and guitar), bassist Peter Badie and drummer Ernest Elly.
Cheatham plays melodic, swinging and frequently exciting solos, taking personable and whispery vocals on such likeable numbers as "When I Grow Too Old to Dream," "You're Lucky to Me," "Never Swat a Fly," "I Would Do Anything for You" and "I've Got the World on a String." This somewhat overlooked CD is highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow