Gene Roland - Swingin' Friends

All Music Guide

Gene Roland is known primarily for creating the famous “Four Brothers" sound by forming a band in 1946 with saxophonist Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Jimmy Giuffre and Herbie Steward, as well as his writing for several big bands, though his relatively few records as a leader have been unjustly neglected. These 1963 sessions made for Brunswick sadly mark his final recording under his name prior to his death in 1982, though he made his finale a memorable one. Not only did he assemble a first rate octet with Clark Terry, Snooky Young, Jimmy Knepper and both Sims and Cohn, but his arrangements are outstanding. The music mixes originals with cool, swinging arrangements of gems like Mel Torme's “A Stranger in Town," Alec Wilder's “The Wrong Blues," “'Round Midnight" and a pair of oldies from the repertoire of Benny Goodman, “Soft Winds" and “A Smooooth One." The rhythm section is anchored by pianist John Bunch, with bassist John Beal and drummer Sol Gubin. It's obvious that everyone was enjoying thems...elves in the studio throughout the sessions. This valuable LP will not be easy to track down. - Ken Dryden, All Music Guide Read more Less