Monday, April 11, 2005

Brooks brothers

The intricate, soulful tenor sax of Tina Brooks, which I first heard on the legendary Jimmy Smith’s “House Party,” went silent too soon and I hope he gets some belated recognition from the recent Blue Note reissue of “True Blue.” Freddie Hubbard scores some good licks on the CD, too. I like “Back to the Tracks” as well. Had he lived, I think Brooks, who sounds something like Wayne Shorter in his Jazz Messenger days, would rate today as a jazz legend himself.

If you like Tina, try Bubba. James “Bubba” Brooks, the more rhythm and bluesy of the tenor-playing Brooks brothers, has a fun, groovin’ outing with B-3 master Dr. Lonnie Smith on “Polka Dots and Moonbeams.”

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