Although
Mike Vax is a talented trumpeter and flügelhornist, it's hard not to be upstaged by a guest the caliber of
Clark Terry. Fortunately these two men realize that this studio session is not a competition, but instead an old friendship that is focused on producing great music. The supporting cast includes the talented but underappreciated trombonist
John Allred, young pianist Reggie Thomas, veteran bassist
Rufus Reid, and
Terry's regular drummer
Sylvia Cuenca.
Vax contributed the lively "Royal Street Shuffle," which is driven by Thomas' strong boogie-woogie piano, and the oddly named "Creepin' With Clark," as there's nothing slow-paced about this swinger!
Vax's deliberate arrangement of
Duke Ellington's "Creole Love Call" opens with just
Terry's flügelhorn and
Allred's trombone, before
Vax adds his muted trumpet as the rest of the group joins in;
Terry's following gutbucket muted solo is inspired.
Terry's fat-toned flügelhorn is immediately identifiable on his old composition, the upbeat "Serenade to a Bus Seat," which features great solos by the entire group. The two leaders' horns blend beautifully in
Terry's "Just a Simple Waltz," and they take turns caressing his rich ballad "Sheba." The tasty dessert at the end of this CD is actually served in two courses. First,
Terry's treatment of the late
Harry "Sweets" Edison's easygoing "Jive at Five" features him alternating between his matchless scat singing and his muted trumpet. The finale finds
Terry alternating between muted trumpet and flügelhorn on his funky "One Foot in the Gutter." Highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden