Bob Brookmeyer - The Bob Brookmeyer Small Band '1978

Tracks list

This double-album is an excellent showcase for Bob Brookmeyers valve trombone
playing. Joined by the complementary guitarist Jack Wilkins, bassist Michael
Moore and drummer Joe LaBarbera, Brookmeyer stretches out on ten standards, two
songs by Andy Laverne, the obscure Passages plus a pair of his own songs. The
two-fer is one of the best examples of Brookmeyers playing since his permanent
return from semi-retirement earlier in 1978. (Scott Yanow, AMG)

The group here - Jack Wilkins, Michael Moore, and Joe LaBarbera - is the first
group Ive had as a leader that Im serious about, Bob says. In the past, Id think
of a group in terms of a week or a month. My whole life then was sort of
disposable. Night clubs were disposable, bands were disposable. But now, Ive
taken over my life and I have a group that I can stand up and be proud of. Its
not something I feel Ill be through with after a gig and then go on to something
else. This band has an intent to live.

Already, as you can hear, it is a band that sounds as if its been together for
months, even years, so quickly attentive as well as inventive are all its parts
Jack Wilkins, in my view, is the most imaginative guitarist to have emerged
since Jim Hall. Hes been with Stan Getz and Dizzy Gillespie, among others, but I
first heard him with Buddy Rich. In a welcome solo spot after the magnified
machine-gun sound of that big band, Wilkins practically hypnotized the whole
room with a ballad that kept changing shapes and colors as if it were enchanted.
Then later in the same set, he swung hard enough to carry the whole band.

Jack is a musician, says Brookmeyer, who has all the tols to do anything he
wants. And he can sound any number of different ways. Mike Moore has the same
high and continually climbing reputation among musicians as does Wilkins. His
credits include stretches with Woody Herman, Marian McPartland, Freddie Hubbard,
the Ruby Braff-George Barnes quartet, Maria Muldaur, and Benny Goodman.

Bob Brookmeyer, trombone
Jack Wilkins, guitar
Michael Moore, bass
Joe Labarbiera, drums

Recorded Live July 28-29 1978 at Sandys Jazz Revival

Digitally remastered

01 - Bob Brookmeyer - Youd Be so Nice to Come Home To (9:31)
02 - Bob Brookmeyer - Bad Agnes (4:16)
03 - Bob Brookmeyer - Someday My Prince Will Come (7:51)
04 - Bob Brookmeyer - Sweet & Lovely (8:01)
05 - Bob Brookmeyer - Madam X (7:30)
06 - Bob Brookmeyer - Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (4:31)
07 - Bob Brookmeyer - Yesterdays (9:44)
08 - Bob Brookmeyer - Body & Soul (3:22)
09 - Bob Brookmeyer - Moonlight in Vermont (8:29)
10 - Bob Brookmeyer - Cant Get Started (3:22)
11 - Bob Brookmeyer - Soft Porn (7:51)
12 - Bob Brookmeyer - Everything I Love (8:54)
13 - Bob Brookmeyer - Exactly Alike (11:08)
14 - Bob Brookmeyer - Passages (9:57)
15 - Bob Brookmeyer - (Bobs Theme) Its a Wonderful World (5:43)

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