Bob Brookmeyer
pioneered playing jazz on the valve trombone, and employed an open-ended approach that embraced both cool and chamber jazz elements. This CD combines two of his finest early period albums from 1960 and 1961, playing standards and originals alongside a stock backup piano/bass/drums trio with
Jimmy Rowles
, and interpreting the music of
Alec Wilder
in tandem with guitarist
Jim Hall
. For the latter date,
Brookmeyer
goes back and forth between trombone and piano, with drummer
Mel Lewis
on both sessions. The first group is more sedate on songs like the polite
"On the Sunny Side of the Street"
and
"Languid Blues,"
but hop it up for the happy swinger
"I Got Rhythm,"
or up and down title track.
has a delicate touch on piano for the waltz
"While We're Young"
"The Wrong Blues,"
but on the trombone bops along for the fun tune
"That's The Way It Goes,"
and epitomizes California cool for classics like the immortal
"It's so Peaceful in the Country,"
paired beautifully with
Hall
on
"Who Can I Turn To?"
or on the muted trombone during
"I'll Be Around."
As you listen, you notice
gets around on his brass instrument as a trumpeter, not with the acumen of
J.J. Johnson'
s slide trombone, but with an attack that combines the subtleties of
Chet Baker
with the alacrity of
Shorty Rogers
, who must be a telling influence. These albums were highly rated when they came out, and stand the test of time as excellent early examples of
's performance prowess. ~ Michael G. Nastos