Search - Bob Florence :: Jewels

BF, RIP

Ed Mann | Los Angeles, CA | 05/31/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After Bob Florence passed earlier this month, I got to rumaging around my CD pile and found this Jewel. After looking it up here on Amazon, I was surprised to find such an old and somewhat obscure release at such high prices, until I heard it again. This is one of the best crafted jazz big band products I've heard since Long Yellow Road by Toshiko Akyoshi's band.



Florence never hesitated to extend the chord changes and explore the limits of the instruments for which he scores, and he extends the adventure into voice with his unique contribution by Julie Andrews in the title cut, one of the most pleasingly haunting jazz interpretations I've heard in years. George Graham's and Charley Davis' lead trumpet work is masterful as always, Steve Hufstetter is brilliant on the solo trumpet and Bob's omnipresent collaborator, Pete Christlieb is effortless.



I'm keeping this out of the CD pile and installed permanently in the car. Bob, rest in peace. We'll enjoy you forever."