Cal Collins - Blues on My Mind Concord Jazz 1979

Cal Collins - Blues on My Mind
Concord Jazz 1979

A1 Blues On My Mind 5:39    
A2 Imagination 4:30
A3 Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise 4:56    
A4 I Love You, Samantha 5:27    
B1 Marie 2:51    
B2 Dream A Little Dream Of Me 6:12 
B3 My Melancholy Baby 3:32    
B4 Ruby 6:02    

Bass – Bob Maize, Drums – Jeff Hamilton, Guitar – Cal Collins, Piano – Larry Vuckovich

Think about this for a moment....just how bad-ass a guitar player did you have to be to record at Concord? I mean Joe Pass, Tal Farlow, Herb Ellis, Charlie Byrd, Remo Palmieri, and....Cal Collins. Well actually Collins BELONGS in that kind of company. I'd compare my first experience of Cal to my more recent first experience with Louis Stewart, your heads snaps up and you say"Oh Good Lord Who is THAT?" Cal had chops to equal anyone and an infectious swing that reminded me of George Barnes and Tiny Grimes. I don't think Cal would have minded either comparison.

One of the things that will strike you when first hearing this music is that surely this was a 'working band', this sort of effortless swing is hard won. Well yes and no, this is The Larry Vuckovich Trio with Guest Cal Collins. Anyone who is a Jazz fan in the Bay Area can tell you these guys are (or maybe were, it has been awhile) consummate pro's and they clearly made Cal feel like he was right back home in Cincinnati. If you are a guitar guy or gal, then I'm betting this will stay in your play list for quite awhile.