Shut Yo' Mouth!

by Ken DrydenBriefly available as an LP on the PM label shortly before it went out of business, this fun date featuring two bassists best known for singing and playing bass simultaneously, Slam Stewart an octave above and Major Holley in unison with his bass. Both their humor and great playing are readily apparent throughout this release, especially on classics such as "Misty" and "Undecided." The big surprise is "Tomorrow," the obnoxious song from the musical Annie; its amusing facelift makes it tolerable at last. The title track is a takeoff on "Close Your Eyes." Versatile pianist Dick Hyman and solid drummer Oliver Jackson round out this enjoyable session, one of the last jazz albums on Delos before they returned to classical music exclusively.