Alto saxophonist
Lennie Niehaus is better known as the arranger for
Clint Eastwood's films, but he has long been familiar to
jazz fans as a respected bandleader, composer, arranger, and soloist. This limited-edition audiophile reissue of his first solo recordings (following stints with
Stan Kenton and
Shorty Rogers) is a stunner. Included is the first 10" LP he recorded with a three-saxophone front line -- in this case, with
Jack Montrose (tenor), and
Bob Gordon (baritone) -- and other quintet sessions with musicians including pianist
Hampton Hawes, and fellow
Kentonite Shelly Manne (who was responsible for
Niehaus' record deal with Contemporary's
Lester Koenig in the first place). The involvement of
Kenton bandmembers familiar with one another lends an ease and excitement to the proceedings. These quintet sessions are
west coast jazz at its finest. Melodic tunes give plenty of air to the lyrical yet complex nature of much of the music coming from that region at the time, with no remnants of the cool
jazz period. These 1954 sides stomp with swing, color, and style. Bebop is called upon for tempo and pace, while
swing and
hard bop are referenced as checkpoints. There is a genuine glee in
Niehaus' playing on "I Can't Believe You're in Love with Me," when he trades solos with
Stu Williamson, while he paces the slightly faster take on "I Remember You" until slipping into one of those long, melodically sophisticated solos of his, just when you expected another chorus. Listening to this, it's hard to believe
west coast jazz ever got a bad rap. This set sounds as fresh today as it did then. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
