Born in British Columbia, weaned on the jazz scene in Toronto, and currently living in New Orleans, ex-Jim Cullum sideman
Brian Ogilvie plays tasteful, even-keeled traditional swing-to-bop tenor sax, clarinet, and a little alto. Cullum bandmate
John Sheridan is here on piano; unsung bass hero
Phil Flanigan and drummer
Jeff Hamilton back him up; and trombonist/cornetist
Dan Barrett shows up on six of these 15 selections. Of the larger group efforts, the spirited "And the Angels Swing," the lightly melodic "S'posin'," and the bass-led "Ducky Wucky" use clarinet and muted trombone on second-line accents and traded solos. The perky "'Taint What You Do (It's the Way 'Cha Do It)" and the clean, bright "Kansas City Stride" bring clearly into focus the tenor/trombone tandem's compatibility. Propelled by Barrett's cornet and
Ogilvie's
Benny Goodman-ish clarinet, "Long Live the King" is as good as swing gets.
Ogilvie's tenor is also quite capable of bopping, as displayed on the title track and the hard-swinging classics "Robbins Nest" and "Twisted." Whether working in lighter stride shadings for Sheridan's original "Evening Shadows" or in unison with Flanigan during
Oscar Pettiford's "Tricrotism,"
Ogilvie shows great flexibility. His dulcet, low-register clarinet lilts on "Nature Boy" and swings in Dixieland style for the uptempo "Together." The drum-free ballad "All Too Soon" and the classic
Erroll Garner repast "Like It Is" are two more standouts.
Ogilvie is a very competent player who's growing and developing in tuneful and traditional ways. His sound should appeal to most early-period mavens, and while no
Coleman Hawkins or
Ben Webster, he most assuredly is making the attempt to at least bask in their imposing shadows. His visage stands up well. ~ Michael G. Nastos