Old Friends, New Music

AMG Review of Old Friends, New Music

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

Valve trombonist Rob McConnell has mostly recorded with his big band the Boss Brass since the mid-'70s. This Canadian LP was a fine change of pace, because it features the valve trombonist in a sextet with some other top players from his orchestra: trumpeter Guido Basso, Rick Wilkins on tenor, guitarist Ed Bickert, bassist Steve Wallace and drummer Terry Clarke. Quite typically, McConnell also provided the arrangements for the ensembles, but the emphasis is definitely on the fine soloists. The leader and Wilkins provided two originals apiece, and the other tunes ("Ray's Idea," Thelonious Monk's "Pannonica," Lanny Morgan's "Friends Again" and Jim Hall's "Simple Samba") are rarely performed, so this bop-oriented set has plenty of fresh music. Worth searching for.