James Zollar - Soring with the Bird (CD)

All Music Guide

Apart from Andy Martin's low-down New Orleans trombone sound on "Parker's Mood" and the rarely recorded "Si Si," there aren't many surprises on this album -- it's just a consistently well played and thoughtfully arranged set of Charlie Parker standards by a small ensemble led by trumpeter James Zollar. All the favorites are here: "Donna Lee" (taken at a breakneck tempo that must have left Martin with a shredded lip and a sore right arm), the delightful "Moose the Mooch," "Dewey Square," "Steeplechase," etc. The three non-Parker compositions are tunes somewhat associated with him: "The Song Is You," "I Didn't Know What Time It Was," and "If I Should Lose You." Zollar shows himself to be both a capable bandleader and a trumpeter of both great energy and rare sensitivity; his mute work on "Parker's Mood" and "Donna Lee" is especially nice.

- Rick Anderson, All Music Guide