Jack Montrose & Bob Gordon - Two Can Play (2-Disc set)

Largely forgotten in the 1990s and living in the Las Vegas area, tenor saxophonist Jack Montrose was one of the most skillful of the cool jazz arranger/composers of the 1950s. This 1998 CD combines together two dates: arguably Montrose's finest album as a leader (a 1955 outing with baritonist Bob Gordon, trumpeter Conte Candoli, pianist Paul Moer, bassist Ralph Pena, and drummer Shelly Manne), plus a quintet set that was actually headed by the short-lived Gordon (who died in a car accident on August 28, 1955). Montrose's own date has five of his originals plus three reworked standards, while Gordon's album is comprised of six Montrose songs (including two versions of "Two Can Play") and three other standards. Even on the latter album, Montrose's charts (which are full of unexpected surprises while always swinging and leaving room for plenty of solos) are quite notable and show that, despite the restrained tones, there was plenty of excitement to be found in West Coast jazz. In addition, this CD acts as a perfect memorial for the talented Gerry Mulligan-influenced baritonist Bob Gordon. Highly recommended. ~Scott Yanow

CD1 #1-9: Bob Gordon Quintet
Jack Montrose (ts), Bob Gordon (bars), Paul Moer (p), Joe Mondragon (b), Billy Schneider (d). Hollywood, May 6 and 27, 1954

CD1 #10-14 & CD2 #1-4: Jack Montrose Quintet
Jack Montrose (ts), Bob Gordon (bars), Paul Moer (p), Red Mitchell (b), Shelly Manne (d). Hollywood, May 11 & 12, 1955

CD2 #5-12: Jack Montrose Sextet
Conte Candoli (tp), Jack Montrose (ts), Bob Gordon (bars), Paul Moer (p), Ralph Peña (b), Shelly Manne (d). Hollywood, June 24 and July 6, 1955.

Album: Two Can Play (Disc 1)
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 49:40
Size: 113.7 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1955/2012

[2:34] 1. Meet Mr. Gordon
[3:01] 2. Tea For Two
[3:43] 3. Modus Operandi
[3:24] 4. Onion Bottom
[3:35] 5. What A Difference A Day Makes
[3:44] 6. For Sue
[2:21] 7. Love Is Here To Stay
[2:27] 8. Two Can Play
[2:24] 9. Two Can Play (Alternate Take)
[4:56] 10. A Little Duet
[4:02] 11. Paradox
[3:31] 12. When You Wish Upon A Star
[5:13] 13. Have You Met Miss Jones
[4:39] 14. Dot's Groovy

Two Can Play (Disc 1)

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Album: Two Can Play (Disc 2)
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 60:29
Size: 138.5 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1955/2012
Art: Front

[5:43] 1. I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town
[4:32] 2. Cecilia
[5:01] 3. April's Fool
[4:15] 4. The News And The Weather
[5:31] 5. Listen, Hear
[5:15] 6. Pretty
[5:27] 7. Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered
[5:23] 8. Credo
[5:32] 9. Fools Rush In
[4:11] 10. Speakeasy
[4:26] 11. That Old Feeling
[5:06] 12. Some Good Fun Blues

Two Can Play (Disc 2)

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