AMG Review of Rare Dawn Sessions

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

This CD is a bit of a disappointment, not for the music but for the packaging. During 1979-1980, Biograph came out with two Zoot Sims LPs (One to Blow On and The Big Stampede) that contained 16 selections in all. But this CD just has ten of the songs, seven of the eight tunes from the first album (why did they leave out "September in the Rain"?) and three of the eight numbers from the second date. The incomplete nature of this reissue series is a pity for the music is excellent. Sims's tenor fits in very well with the valve trombone of Bob Brookmeyer during the earlier quintet date and also blends nicely with the cool-toned trumpet of Jerry Lloyd on the final three numbers. The music is swinging with Sims already starting to show an original musical personality built out of the sound of Lester Young. But the CD is only recommended to those listeners unable to find the two earlier LPs.