Search - Zoot Sims :: Soprano Saz Ray Bryant

Zoot on Soprano

Stuart B. Simpson | Lakewood,Wash. 98439, wa United States | 03/15/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Zoot Sims was mainly a tenor man, but here on soprano he sounds verycomfortable.The tunes range from ballads,to blues,to swingers.Two originals and six standards.Someintonation problems when Zoot plays real high notes,otherwise he sounds great!The best Moonlight in Vermont I've ever heard!Sweet! A big plus is Ray Bryant on piano. Grady Tate and George Mraz round out the rhythm secton.A great intro to the soprano sax!Highly recommended!"

Beautiful Zoot on the straight horn

Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 12/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
One of my favorite Zoot Sims albums. Zoot took up the soprano sax relativey late in his career, and it's a shame he waited so long - he plays it beautifully. He has a very melodic tone and on slower numbers is as plaintive as a soft summer evening breeze. Often on his Pablo albums he would play soprano on a track or two, but on this one it's his only axe.



The high quality of his playing and approach is consistent throughout this CD, with only BLUES FOR LOUISE falling slightly below the others, mainly because Zoot doesn't enter until the song is three-quarters over. Not that the other members of the group (Ray Bryant [p] George Mraz [b] Grady Tate [d]) are shabby (in fact they're excellent); it's just that the more of Zoot the better. Five of the eight tunes are slow ballads, and Zoot milks them for all their lyricism. WRAP UP is a quick blues, and Zoot swings it hard, though I think I like his soprano playing better on the slower tunes. It's a wonderful CD that explores another aspect of Zoot's artistry. Definitely worth checking out."

Sop Pop

Bomojaz | 11/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A great intro to a great saxophonist. Zoot Sims' sense of phrasing and time is inimitable. He could swing. 'Nuff said. As far as "intonation problems" mentioned by an earlier reviewer, try playing the soprano sax. Even Coltrane, who brought the "fish horn" into the modern world after Bechet and Hodges breathed life into it, struggled up top. That's the nature of the beast. "Moonlight in Vermont" is as good as that old chestnut gets. "Someday Sweetheart," the opening track, showcases Zoot's singular touch and the superb chops of the whole band (Messers Tate, Mraz, and Bryant). Just a superb vibe from bottom to top."