For a little while in the mid-'50s,
Zoot Sims occasionally doubled on alto although he soon switched back exclusively to tenor where he had a stronger musical personality. On the CD reissue of Riverside's 1956
Zoot!,
Sims plays alto on two of the seven tracks and works well with trumpeter Nick Travis. Actually, pianist
George Handy, who contributed four originals (two standards and drummer
Osie Johnson's "Osmosis" complete the program) and did all of the arranging, comes across as the key supporting player; bassist
Wilbur Ware and
Johnson are fine in quiet support. Although
Handy's arrangements are a bit modern, this is still a typically hard-swinging and melodic
Zoot Sims date. ~ Scott Yanow