Scott Robinson – Plays the Compositions of Thad Jones: Forever Lasting – Arbors

by | Jun 24, 2008 | Jazz CD Reviews | 0 comments

Scott Robinson – Plays the Compositions of Thad Jones: Forever Lasting – Arbors ARCD 19276, 68:46 ****1/2 [Distr. by Allegro]:

(Scott Robinson (14!) instruments; Mike LeDonne, Hammond B-3 organ; Richard Wyands, piano; Hank Jones, piano (track #8 only); Pat O’Leary, bass; Dennis Mackrel and Klaus Suonsaari, drums)

To say that Scott Robinson can play most any horn or reed instrument is not an exaggeration. On Robinson’s warm tribute to trumpeter, composer, and big band legend, Thad Jones,  Robinson tackles 14 instruments. They range from the saxophone (including the seldom-played bass sax) to clarinet and flute, but also to the exotic Contrabass Sarrusophone and Theremin. Scott must need a full time roadie/valet just to carry his instruments!

It is also a welcome treat to include Mike Le Donne’s Hammond B-3 on five tracks as it brings a soulfulness to the proceedings. It uses the immense talents of Richard Wyands on piano (Wyands seldom gets the mention he deserves in the upper echelon of piano accompanists).  Thad’s brother Hank – featured on TNA Blues – is proof of the class act that Arbors Records gives their Great American Composers Series.

Robinson includes both well-known Thad Jones’ compositions (Three and One, and A Child is Born) and lesser known big band Jones’ fare. I found the bass saxophone and Sarusophone and Hammond B-3 material (To You, Three and One, TNA  Blues, and Greetings and Salutations) most fascinating for their mix of deep bottom end with the sweetness of the Hammond B-3 – an intriguing combination.

The sound recording on this CD is superb, and master engineer Jim Anderson recorded nine of the fourteen tracks. For fans of either Thad Jones or multi-instrumentalist par excellence Scott Robinson, this is a must purchase.

TrackList: Quietude, To You, Interloper, Don’t Ever Leave Me, Three and One, Yours and Mine, Fingers, All My Yesterdays, TNA Blues, A Child is Born, Walkin’ About, Kids are Pretty People, The Summary, Greetings and Salutations

– Jeff Krow

Related Reviews
Logo Pure Pleasure
Logo Crystal Records Sidebar 300 ms
Logo Jazz Detective Deep Digs Animated 01