Jimmy Gourley lived in France for so long (since 1951) that it is often assumed that the American guitarist is French. The 1986
Left Bank of New York set was the first time he had an opportunity to record in the United States. Six of the ten selections feature
Gourley in a trio with bassist
Marc Johnson and drummer
Victor Lewis, including
Johnny Griffin's excellent original "When We Were One,"
Sonny Rollins' "Airegin," and
Jimmy Rowles' "The Peacocks." The other four selections add trumpeter
Don Sickler and tenor saxophonist
Ralph Moore and are actually more exciting, partly due to
Sickler's transcriptions and also due to the vintage material (including two
Gigi Gryce songs). All in all, this is an excellent recording, one of
Grouley's most satisfying. ~ Scott Yanow