Jiggs is one of the most experienced trombonists (still) around and, in a career that began around 1960, he’s found himself in some demanding situations, like running the BBC Big Band and leading the RIAS big band in Berlin. He joined Stan Kenton in 1963, touring England with the band and eventually replacing Bob Fitzpatrick as lead trombone.
These days he works as a soloist and has an original style with few outside influences. He embellishes the eight well-chosen tunes here with his usual skill with the different moods of Lulu, Invitation and Dindi being particularly attractive.
Jiggs seems to like the smallest of groups – he has a well-praised 1997 album backed solely by the guitar of Gene Bertoncini (Jiggs And Gene, Azica 72204) and obviously likes the pairing with him on this set. I feel that he could do with more substantial support, and other horns to take on the riffs and more general backing and the codas which sometimes seem stark and abrupt.
Discography
It Had Be You; Lulu’s Back In Town; I’m In The Mood For Love; Invitation; Dindi;; Blue Funk; Tea For Two; Embraceable You (51.04)
Whigham (tb); Pelle Von Bulow (g); Mathias Petri (b). Copenhagen, October 2021.
Storyville 101534
