Some Favorite Songs

was known for much beyond his breakthrough instrumental AM radio hit recording some 50 albums up until his death in 2007. This CD is a new release among the massive label reissue project, done before 's passing, with a group of veteran musicians he played with in Nashville. Bassist (who also penned the heartfelt liner notes) issued a directive to have s tenor sax embrace some of his favorite standards, and the overall result proves he could play them skillfully at an advanced age. The usage of synthesizer strings mars some of the tracks, a completely unnecessary sweetening, but the majority of these tunes are rendered faithfully in the acoustic jazz tradition. It's clear when you hear his full, rich tone on or that his influences go back to , , or even and . Then again, he readily acknowledges on the ballad/blues while a slower take of and the upbeat in tandem with guitarist , both pay homage to . A contemporary, calypso organ combo take of shows 's longstanding studio side, as does while his slight vibrato comes to the fore during It would have been better to hear the nostalgic without the synthesizer underpinning, though the simulated strings and horns on are unobtrusive. and drummer -- with for over two decades -- swing the band quite nicely over this entire program. What is important here is that into his late seventies, could still play rings around other swing-oriented saxophonists much younger than he. Generally dubbed a pop instrumentalist or country performer, he remained a jazzman at heart, as proven on this recording and many others made over a successful and rewarding commercial career. ~ Michael G. Nastos