Bucky Pizzarelli leads a strong quintet through this intimate live set at Makor, a Manhattan night spot. The seven-string guitarist is always game for anything, and with a superb group -- including nearly everyone's first-call bassist,
Michael Moore, clarinetist
Allan Vaché, vibraphonist
Peter Appleyard (who previously worked with
Benny Goodman, as did
Michael Moore and the leader), and drummer
Bernard "Pretty" Purdie -- the veteran leads his group through seven favorites from the swing era. The set sounds very relaxed and informal, as if the musicians were playing for their own fun and had no idea tapes were rolling. A snappy take of "Perdido" and an extended workout of "Limehouse Blues" are but two of the memorable tracks recorded that evening. Suffice to say that if you own more than a couple of CDs featuring
Bucky Pizzarelli, then you should pick up this very rewarding release. ~ Ken Dryden