Triumphant Sax

by Various Artists

Rare & Hard-To-Find Audio CDs (series)

GRP begins its new Gold Encore anthology series with a good nine-track collection featuring great swing, bop and hard bop performances and decent fusion cuts. Any set that begins with a superb Johnny Hodges track and includes wonderful, robust solos from Coleman Hawkins, John Coltrane and Gerry Mulligan can be forgiven for the routine squawks of Tom Scott and John Klemmer. Michael Brecker's song is humdrum, but his playing has far more strength and energy than the tune merits. Stanley Turrentine shows no one is better at soulful, bluesy tenor, offering an astonishing rendition of "Ciao, Ciao." This should convince newcomers (for whom these sets are clearly designed) to further investigate the music of these greats. ~ Ron Wynn