Though
Al Hirt
may have played better on earlier recordings,
Honey in the Horn
is in many ways the trumpeter's definitive album. Produced in Nashville by
Chet Atkins
, it marks
Hirt
's first session to include vocals (by
the Anita Kerr Singers
) and places his trademark commanding trumpet tone right up front. Though
is, of course, from New Orleans, the backing band is composed of
Atkins
' A-list Music City stalwarts: saxophonist
Boots Randolph
, bassist
Bob Moore
, guitarist
Grady Martin
, and piano great
Floyd Cramer
. The match is a good one, though it should be noted that the music here is
pop
through and through;
' genius as a producer was always to combine disparate elements into a cohesive and ultra-smooth whole. Don't expect a lot of chops-busting
jazz improvisation
(or even much
Dixieland
); the focus here is on stating the melody as clearly and cleanly as possible with a minimum of fuss. This
does brilliantly, adding ad-lib flourishes so perfectly phrased that they sound written out. Although it's tempting to dismiss a record like this as simple elevator music, the extraordinary level of craftsmanship and sublime, no-frills playing places the album in a category with the finest minimalist art. Perhaps the best thing about
, however, is the pure sonic beauty of it all.
's trumpet is so masterfully recorded that even the lowest-end stereo system can fill a room with his lush sound (audiophiles should make sure to search out the original vinyl pressing). ~ Pemberton Roach