Some Favorite Songs

Boots Randolph was known for much beyond his breakthrough instrumental AM radio hit "Yakety Sax," recording some 50 albums up until his death in 2007. This CD is a new release among the massive Inner City label reissue project, done before Randolph's passing, with a group of veteran musicians he played with in Nashville. Bassist Tim Smith (who also penned the heartfelt liner notes) issued a directive to have Randolph's tenor sax embrace some of his favorite standards, and the overall result proves he could play them skillfully at an advanced age. The usage of synthesizer strings mars some of the tracks, a completely unnecessary sweetening, but the majority of these tunes are rendered faithfully in the acoustic jazz tradition. It's clear when you hear his full, rich tone on "I'm Beginning to See the Light" or "Stompin' at the Savoy" that his influences go back to Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, or even Zoot Sims and Flip Phillips. Then again, he readily acknowledges Don Byas on the balla