Doggin' Around

by Scott YanowAfter recording many albums for Concord (including the majority of the label's first releases), Herb Ellis did not lead any sessions for seven years until this duet date with bassist Red Mitchell. Other than three originals (including Mitchell's "Big 'N' and the Bear" which features the bassist's vocal), the repertoire is taken from the swing era. The interplay by the two greats on tunes such as "Sweethearts on Parade," a medium-tempo "Over the Rainbow," "Lady Be Good" and Mitchell's "Life's a Take" plus the classic cover drawing by cartoonist Gary Larson (depicting a jazz club run by and for dogs called "The Stuffed Cat") are good reasons to acquire this high-quality straightahead session.