Clarinetist
Tony Scott, who was 71 at the time, plays mostly ballads on this standards date with an Italian rhythm section of pianist
Massimo Farao, bassist Aldo Zunino and drummer Guilio Capiozzo.
Scott still mostly retains his cool-toned clarinet sound, but his intonation is erratic in spots, particularly on a 15½-minute version of "Speak Low" that should have been re-recorded. One admires the spontaneity, but the overall results, which are generally quite relaxed (including such songs as "My Funny Valentine," "Easy Living" and "I Can't Get Started"), are just OK, but not an important milestone. One wishes that
Tony Scott, one of the top jazz clarinetists of the 1950s and one who has spent most of his post-1960 years overseas, had done much more with his musical talents through the years. ~ Scott Yanow