The Great Zoot Sims Down Home

Bethlehem Records was one of the larger jazz labels, founded in the 50s by Gus Wildi with an impressive list of artists, including singers Nina Simone, Carmen MacRae, Chris Conner & Mel Torme, to name a few; the arrangers: Marty Paich, Russ Garcia, Frank Hunter; and among the musicians: Dexter Gordon, Roland Kirk, Charles Mingus, Frank Rosolino, Herbie Mann, Stan Levey, Art Blakey, Milt Hinton, Errol Garner, Zoot Sims, Duke Ellington, J.J. Johnson and many, many others. It was characteristic of this label that it gave the artists the creative control of their projects and presented albums with cutting-edge graphic design. The Legacy is a very lush discography that captured an era full of freshness and ambition and preserved, truly amazing music such as west coast cool jazz, East Coast bop and various vocalists. Many of these artists took their first or most important photograph at Bethlehem. By trusting its collaborators and artists to make their own artistic choices, experiment and thrive in this way, Bethlehem actively helped to create, not just document, a comprehensive and extremely diverse era of jazz music.
This album was recorded in 1960, in one of Zoot Sims' most productive years. These recordings are recognized as masterpieces of Sims' middle period.

Features:

• Limited Edition 180g Vinyl
• Pressed at Pallas in Germany
• Audiophile Remastering

Musicians:

• Zoot Sims, ts
• Dave McKenna, piano
• George Tucker, bass
• Dannie Richmond, drums

Selections:

Side A
1. Jive At Five
2. Doggin' Around
3. Avalon
4. I Cried For You
Side B
1. Bill Bailey
2. Goodnight, Sweetheard
3. There'll Be Some Changes Made
4. I've Heard That Blues Before