A nice little set by Sonny Stitt and Zoot Sims – recorded in Chicago after the two had played together at the Plugged Nickel in the Windy City! Backing is by the trio of pianist John Young – who gives the album a rolling bottom groove that shows off the Chicago sound of the early 60s quite nicely – and both Stitt and Sims respond with some strong solo work on their own part, opening up a bit more than on other sides at the time. Sonny plays both alto and tenor, and tracks include three originals by Stitt – "The Saber", "Katea", and "I Want To Go Home" – as well as "My Blue Heaven", "Fools Rush In", and "Look Down That Lonesome Road". LP, Vinyl record album

A 2LP set that features the core album Interaction by Stitt & Sims – plus a lot of additional material from other albums. The core set was recorded in Chicago after the two had played together at the Plugged Nickel in the Windy City! Backing is by the trio of John Young – who gives the album a rolling bottom groove that shows off the Chicago sound of the early 60s quite nicely – and both Stitt and Sims respond with some strong solo work on their own part, opening up a bit more than on other sides at the time. Tracks include three originals by Stitt – "The Saber", "Katea", and "I Want To Go Home" – as well as "My Blue Heaven", "Fools Rush In", and "Look Down That Lonesome Road". Added to that is some material from the Zoot Sims Quartet album on Argo from 1956 – featuring the tracks "That Old Feeling" and "Woody N You" – plus tracks from the 1960 Stitt set Burning – including the tracks "It's Hipper Than That" and "How High The Moon". LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful work from Zoot Sims – recorded live in Las Vegas in the mid 70s, and captured with an open-ended feel that features plenty of room for solos! Sims really dominates the record – stepping out front of the rhythm section and blowing some incredibly imaginative lines that get past the shorter mode of his studio sessions. There's a feel here that almost reminds us of Sonny Stitt at his best – Zoot blowing in a relaxedly creative mode that flows out with near-perfect choices in tone and phrasing throughout. Most tracks push the 10 minute mark, and the performance features 6 well-recorded numbers that include Zoot on soprano sax on "Flower Waltz", and back on tenor for the tracks "It Had To Be You", "Thumbs Up", "Emily", "I'll Remember April", and "If I Should Lose You". CD

Two obscure quartet sessions from Zoot Sims – and nice ones too! The group's great – with Johnny Williams on piano, Gus Johnson on drums, and Knobby Totah on bass – and Zoot's blowing in an unfettered setting that reminds us a bit of Sonny Stitt in similar settings at the same time! Tracks are shortish, but there's still plenty of room for Zoot to work in a style that's up there with his best bop recordings of the 50s – and at some level, the record's got the same sharp edge as Sims' best early sides for Prestige – but perhaps goes them one better with an added sense of tightness and maturity. CD reissue includes all but one of the tracks originally released on Zoot, and most of Zoot Plays Alto, including "55th & State", "920 Special", "Gus' Blues", "Zonkin", "Blinuet", and "Pegasus". CD

With performances by Nat Adderley, Art Blakey, Gary Burton, Jaki Byard, George Duke, Harry Edison, Tyree Glenn, Dexter Gordon, Herbie Hancock, Elvin Jones, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Howard McGhee, Zoot Sims, Jimmy Smith, Sonny Stitt, Tony Williams, and others! LP, Vinyl record album