'Round Midnight

Tenor saxophonists Harry Allen and Scott Hamilton are veterans who have occasionally shared the stage and recorded together, a complementary pairing reminiscent of the team of Al Cohn and Zoot Sims. For these 2012 sessions, the two tenorists are joined by pianist Rosanno Sportiello, bassist Joel Forbes, and drummer Chuck Riggs, all of whom, like the co-leaders, are regulars on the jazz party circuit. The songs selected include a mix of standards, jazz favorites, and a handful of obscurities. Their relaxed interpretation of the old chestnut "My Melancholy Baby" is anything but hackneyed, with a conversation between the two tenors. The hard-driving bop setting of Rodgers & Hart's "Lover" showcases how well the tenor men complement one another's playing, with Forbes' potent bass work driving them. The standard "Baubles, Bangles and Beads" was a favorite of Gerry Mulligan; this version transforms it into an easygoing bossa nova. The breathy vibrato in the robust setting of "'Round Midnight" recalls the great Ben Webster. One hidden gem is the brisk, swinging take of Neal Hefti's "Flight of the Foo Birds" (the title was inspired by an old joke with a Spoonerism punch line), written for Count Basie and long forgotten. Allen's punchy "Great Scott" is a reworking of "Indiana" that was inspired by a riff he heard Hamilton play; together they swing like mad. This rewarding release proves there is still plenty of life left in two-tenor record dates.