ProJazz.net

“A trombonist’s paradise: who could ask for anything more than two of the greatest modern jazz soloists, Bill Watrous and Carl Fontana, fronting a rhythm section for an entire album of unadulterated bliss? Fortunately, this obscure release fulfills all expectations with the trombonists at the peak of their powers, soloing magnificently and showing how this arcane instrument can compete competitively (as if there were any question!) with its more fluid cousins, the saxophone and trumpet. The rhythm section of pianist Ross Tomkins, bassist Bob Maize, and drummer Jack Hanna do their job by staying in the background (except for several fairly nondescript solos), letting the trombonists spread their wings. While Watrous and Fontana come from the same school of “doodle do,” in which they attack the horn with machine gun-like precision, running up and down the slide with spectacular effect, there is a clear distinction between the two. Watrous is a touch less smooth, with a greater range, while Fontana is the more suave and polished, his quiet tonguing a study in perfection. When they converse on “Baby, Its Cold Outside,” you can close your eyes and imagine the sexual bantering. The meeting of Bill Watrous and Carl Fontana rivals that of the great association of J. J. Johnson and Kai Winding in the 1950s, only updated for a later generation. A classic and rare combination, this wonderful album should satisfy the most demanding aficionados of modern jazz trombone.” – Steve Loewy/AllMusic.

Track listing:
A1 Hey There
Composed By – Jerry Ross (2), Richard Adler – 8:41
A2 Memories Of You
Composed By – Andy Razaf, Eubie Blake – 7:46
A3 Dearly Beloved
Composed By – Jerome Kern, John H. Mercer – 4:45
B1 If You Were The Only Girl
Composed By – Clifford Grey, Nat D Ayer – 7:39
B2 I Wish I Don’t Love You So – 8:12
Composed By – Frank Loesser
B3 Baby, Its Cold Outside – 6:47
Composed By – Frank Loesser

Personnel:

Bass – Bob Maize
Design – Akira Tokuda
Drums – Jake Hanna
Piano – Ross Tompkins
Trombone – Bill Watrous, Carl Fontana

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Label: Atlas Record
Series: West Coast Jazz Today
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: Japan
Released: 1984