Jazz for a Rainy Afternoon as released by Savoy Jazz in 2003 is basically an expanded version of the Jazz for a Rainy Afternoon disc released by 32 Jazz in 1999. Instead of one disc, there are now two, which increases the total number of tracks from 11 to 20. The new tracks are drawn from the same source as those on the original release, the catalog of the Muse label from the '70s, '80s, and '90s. Jazz giants like
Houston Person,
David "Fathead" Newman,
Red Garland, and
Sonny Criss all contribute tracks and brush shoulders with jazz middleweights like
Jimmy Ponder,
Warren Vache, and
Carol Welsman. As the title suggests, the songs are relaxed and the mood is mellow and very laid-back. Although the songs date from well-beyond jazz's peak years, the performances are uniformly solid and the disc is a nice, low-priced collection of mood music. ~ Tim Sendra