Pacific Standard (Swingin'!) Time (2 LPs on 1 CD)

PACIFIC STANDARD (SWINGIN'!) TIME
PRESENTING THE BUDDY DE FRANCO TOMMY GUMINA QUARTET
The Buddy De Franco-Tommy Gumina Quartet made a sensational debut at Hollywood's "Pick-a-Rib" night club in March 1960, playing assertive, driving modern jazz. In this new setting, Buddy's fleet, fluid clarinet gained an exciting, fresh context with jazz accordion virtuoso Tommy Gumina. Besides the mutually enhanced over-all sound of clarinet and accordion, the appealing arrangements De Franco and Gumina devised reveal a shared outlook. It firmly placed the emphasis on melody and rhythm, lyricism and stimulation, as much as on their dazzling technical accomplishments. The quartet's first two albums, "Pacific Standard (Swingin'!) Time," and "Presenting…" reflect this. Not only is De Franco warmed by Gumina's strongly swinging attack, but both he and Gumina are also pushed hard by the sturdy rhythm support of bassists Bob Stone and Bill Plummer, and drummers Frank De Vito and John Guerin. Together they delivered straightforward, thoughtfully conceived and beautifully played unpretentious small-group jazz, with a character all its own.