Rare And Obscure Argo Recordings (XXIV)

Zoot Sims Quartet

Zoot 

Owner of a badge of distinction only worn in the lapels of three other men (Stan Getz, Herbie Seward, and Serge Charloff), until late '50s "Zoot" Sims was mostly known as one of the original member of the "Four Brothers" (the saxophone section for the Woody Herman orchestra back in 1947) and for his later prolific collaboration with Al Cohn. Recorded in Chicago in 1956, and originally issued on the Argo label, Zoot is the first of his works to give him sufficient blowing room to show his qualities and merits the full rating as one of the more sustained examples of hot jazz improvisation. *forcedexposure.com*

An obscure session for Zoot Sims — but a nice one! The group's a quartet — with Johnny Williams on piano, Gus Johnson on drums, and Knobby Totah on bass — and Zoot's blowing in an unfettered setting that reminds us a bit of Sonny Stitt in similar settings at the same time! Tracks are shortish, but there's still plenty of room for Zoot to work in a style that's up there with his best bop recordings of the 50s — and at some level, the record's got the same sharp edge as Sims' best early sides for Prestige — but perhaps goes them one better with an added sense of tightness and maturity. The titles are pretty fresh too — and include "55th And State", "9:20 Special", "Gus's Blues", and "Bohemia After Dark".  *Dusty Groove, Inc.*

Zoot Sims is the country boy move to the city, one who has let enough sophistication stick to him so that he can get along with the urbanites.

Though he has firm control of his horn, he shrugs off any unnecessary technical bric-a-brac to dig deeply into the blues-based roots of jazz. His  playing is piercingly honest and revealing, and though he, too, is of the many who have been influenced by Lester Young, his  sound is thicker and fuller, and the beat he evokes is more akin to a heart-beat than a pulse. 

Zoot is a swinger planted ankle-deep in loam.

(This is) quite a remarkable album, one which turns a bright bulb on Zoot Sims, tenor saxophonist.

He does not blink. *Jack Tracy (liner notes)*

1 - 9:20 Special

(E. Warren)

2 - The Man I Love

(G. and I. Gershwin)

3 - 55th And State

(Z. Sims)

4 - Blue Room

(Rogers, Hart)

5 - Gus's Blues

(G.  Johnson)

6 - That Old Feeling

(L. Brown, S. Fain)

7 - Bohemia After Dark

(O. Pettiford)

8 - Woody'n You

(D. Gillespie)

Zoot Sims (tenor sax, alto sax), John Williams (piano),

Knobby Totah (bass), Gus Johnson (drums).

Recorded at Capitol Studios, New York City, October 12, 1956