Bob Mintzer
Canyon Cove
Pony Canyon/Cheetah
www.BobMintzer.com
By George W. Harris

Known best for his work with the venerable Yellowjackets, reedist Bob Mintzer has also put out a respectable catalogue of material under his own name, usually leading a big band, or cozy small group. Here, he takes on the hard to lose choice of the classic Hammond B3 trio, along with Peter Erskine/dr and Larry Goldings/org. Like peanut butter and jelly, Schroeder and his blanket, and Steve Carlton and Tim McCarver, some things are just meant to perennially go together. Same for the tenor and B3-a match made in heaven.

The feel here is more Larry Young subtle than Jimmy Smith groove, which is just fine. Mintzer does tenor, flute and bass clarinet on the compositions, which range from R&B (“Boogaloo To You”) to fingersnapping “Bebop Special.” A few “improvs” are snuck in between songs like the luxurious “When I Fall In Love” which keeps you alert for the occasional bump on the highway, but for the most part, the tunes glide like a slip and slide. Great moody material here. All that’s missing is the low ceiling and dimly lit room.