Very Live in Boulder, Colorado
spotlights tenor saxophonist
Spike Robinson
, who made his way to Boulder for a full-time job outside of music, living there for over three decades. On this 1974 date,
Robinson
, who was playing sporadic gigs in the area, breezes through a program comprised of standards with a warm lyrical tone similar to
Stan Getz
or
Lester Young
. Even though these tunes have been covered ad nauseum, this live set is not so laid-back that it's devoid of emotion. There is plenty of swing and interesting interplay between these musicians, especially on the uptempo tracks "Scrapple from the Apple" and "Summertime." Guitarist, educator, and fellow Denver resident
Dale Bruning
gets his share of the spotlight, putting his intimate, low-key touch on "Our Love Is Here to Stay," "Embraceable You," and "Theme from Black Orpheus." ~ Al Campbell