Willie play it

Another CD I picked up from Simon Rowe's Catalyst Productions is "Alima" featuring St. Louis saxophonist (tenor and soprano) Willie Akins in a quartet with Rowe playing piano.

Akins wouldn't have any problem holding his own in a blowing session with Jimmy Forrest or Oliver Nelson, two other big-league sax players from St. Louis. The liner notes say he's a big Hank Mobley fan, and I hear a resemblance. The program is three Akins originals, including a title track that's by turns a hot run and cooly soulful, and pops and standards you don't, for the most part, hear a lot, "Summertime" the exception. Nothing earthshaking, but some nice touches like the "Surrey with the Fringe on Top" quotes he slips seamlessly into "You Taught My Heart to Sing." Good stuff.