The versatile alto and tenor saxophonist Bill Easley (who on other projects also plays other reeds) is showcased in top form on this CD, performing on two dates with a pair of overlapping groups. Assisted along the way by trumpeter Bill Mobley on five of the numbers, either Sir Roland Hanna or James Williams on piano, and George Caldwell's synthesizer for four of the eight songs, Easley is the main star throughout. He puts plenty of feeling into "It's All in the Game," takes "How Long Has This Been Going On" at a surprisingly fast pace, cooks on "Little Benny," and emulates Sonny Stitt on "Blues for Stitt." Although he has spent much of his career in the background, uplifting other singers and musicians' sessions in addition to working in the studios, Bill Easley shows on this set that he is fully capable of being the leader. This is one of his strongest efforts. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.
Milestone Records, MCD-9186-2,
1991
Recorded 22nd, 29th October,
1990
Musicians:
Bill Easley - Alto Saxophone,
Tenor Saxophone
Bill Mobley - Trumpet
(#3-6,8)
Roland Hanna- Piano
(#1,2,7,8)
James Williams - Piano (#3-6)
George Caldwell - Synthesizer
(#2,4,5,7)
J. J. Wiggins - Bass
(#1,2,7,8)
Dave Jackson - Bass (#3-6)
Grady Tate - Drums
Tracks:
1. It's All In The Game
{Charles G. Dawes, Carl Sigman} (6:22)
2. Somewhere Along The Way
{Kurt Adams, Sammy Gallop} (5:57)
3. How Long Has This Been
Going On {George Gershwin} (7:36)
4. Oh, What A Dream {Chuck
Willis} (8:16)
5. Soulful Bill {James
Williams} (5:51)
6. Blues For Stitt {Bill
Easley} (6:02)
7. Prelude To A Kiss {Duke
Ellington, Irving Gordon, Irving Mills} (6:25)
8. Little Benny [aka
Crazeology] {Bud Freeman, Benny Harris, Charlie Parker} (4:12)
Total Time: 50:41
Credits:
Producer - Bob Porter
Engineer - Malcolm Addey
Assistant Engineer - Ron
Allaire
Digital Mastering - George
Horn
Art Direction - Phil Carroll
Photography - Frank Lindner
Design - Gilles Margerin
Liner Notes - Stuart Troup
