Zoot Sims Passion Flower: Zoot Sims Plays Duke Ellington (Pablo Series)

180g Vinyl LP!
Mastered by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab from the Original Analog Master Tape!
Pressed at QRP!
Here is an album of Duke Ellington compositions arranged and conducted by Benny Carter, with Zoot Sims as principal soloist. Add those names to the list of musicians in the adjoining display and you get a total greater than the sum of its parts. Among the many albums Sims made for Pablo, the Ellington project was particularly close to his heart. The Ellington band of 1940 and '41 was a formative influence on the young tenor man setting out on his career.
On "Passion Flower: Zoot Sims Plays Duke Ellington", Benny Carter provided the arrangements for the 16-piece big band, which accompanies the wonderful tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims in his interpretations of the Duke Ellington songs. Highlights of the album include "In A Mellow Tone," "I Got It Bad," "Passion Flower," and "Bojangles," which show Sims at their best. Among the many albums Sims recorded for Pablo, the Ellington project was particularly close to his heart. The Ellington band of 1940 and 1941 had a formative influence on the young, highly gifted musician, who was just beginning his career. The solos of the great tenor saxophonist Ben Webster made a deep impression on Sims. While his tone was more similar to that of Lester Young, Webster's concept was always an important part of Sims' style, and towards the end of his life, Zoot's sound took on more of Webster's power and darkness.
The great tenor saxophonist Ben Webster's solos profoundly affected him. It is true that his tone was closer to Lester Young's, but Webster's conception was always a major component of Sims's style, and toward the end of his life Zoot's sound took on more of Webster's heft and darkness. Fittingly, he and Webster's favorite pianist, Jimmy Rowles, do "Bojangles" to a rare turn, and Sims gives an achingly beautiful reading of Duke's "Your Love Has Faded."
As part of the "Pablo Reissue Series", Analogue Productions pays tribute to this jazz gem with a sonically excellent reissue, lovingly mastered by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab. The LP, pressed on 180-gram vinyl, at industry leader Quality Record Pressings (QRP) and cut at 33 rpm, comes in a tip-on sleeve from Stoughton Printing.
Mastered by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab from the original analog master tape, and pressed at Quality Record Pressings for optimal sound quality, this Analogue Productions 180-gram reissue is an exceptional audiophile disc. Housed in a gatefold Stoughton Printing tip-on jacket.

Features:

• 180g Vinyl
• Mastered by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab from the Original Analog Master Tape
• Pressed at Quality Record Pressings
• Gatefold Stoughton Printing Tip-On Jacket

Musicians:

• Zoot Sims, leader
• J.J. Johnson, trombone
• Britt Woodman, trombone
• Grover Mitchell, trombone
• Benny Powell, trombone
• Bobby Bryant, trumpet
• Al Aarons, trumpet
• Oscar Brashear, trumpet
• Earl Gardner, trumpet
• Marshall Royal, alto sax
• Frank Wess, alto sax, flute
• Plas Johnson, tenor sax
• Buddy Collette, tenor sax
• Jimmy Rowles, piano
• John Collins, guitar
• Andy Simpkins, bass
• Michael Moore, bass
• John Heard, bass
• Grady Tate, drums
• John Clay, drums
• Shelly Manne, drums

Selections:

Side A
1. It Don't Mean A Thing
2. In A Mellow Tone
3. I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good
4. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
5. Black Butterfly
Side B
1. Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me
2. Your Love Has Faded
3. Bojangles
4. Passion Flower