Bob Cooper, one of many hot West Coast tenor saxophonists who recorded a lot but deserved wider recognition, is heard in two vastly different groups. On the first four selections, valve trombonist Michael Fahn (a fluid player with a gift for melody like Bob Brookmeyer) joins him along with a rhythm section including pianist Ross Tompkins, bassist Charles Berghoffer, and drummer John Guerin. The furious original blues "Fagin" inspires some terrific solos. Next is a brisk chart of the old standard "Out of This World," a ...
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Bob Cooper, one of many hot West Coast tenor saxophonists who recorded a lot but deserved wider recognition, is heard in two vastly different groups. On the first four selections, valve trombonist Michael Fahn (a fluid player with a gift for melody like Bob Brookmeyer) joins him along with a rhythm section including pianist Ross Tompkins, bassist Charles Berghoffer, and drummer John Guerin. The furious original blues "Fagin" inspires some terrific solos. Next is a brisk chart of the old standard "Out of This World," a revival of the swinging ballad "Kissing Bug" (performed often by Duke Ellington during the mid-'40s), and the driving "Chu," a tribute dedicated to the promising tenor saxophonist Chu Berry, who died far too young. The balance of the CD finds Cooper leading a quartet with pianist Carl Schroeder, bassist Bob Magnusson, and drummer Jimmie Smith. Emphasizing his catchy originals, along with solid covers of "We'll Be Together Again" and "I've Got the World on a String," this band consistently catches fire in the studio. With the demise of the Trend label during the 1990s, this recommended CD will grow increasingly difficult to acquire. ~ Ken Dryden, Rovi
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