Sentimental Journey - Phil Urso & Bob Banks

 

Blues To Remember Her By

Sentimental Journey

Phil Urso - Tenor Saxophone & Bob Banks - Organ

Mastering: R. Van Gelder

Production: Ozzie Cadena

Regent Records, Inc. Regent MG-6003

1956

From the back cover: Combining the talents of two fine jazz performers, letting them run the gamut of beautiful pop tunes... nay, standard tunes... for several hours and several sessions is an A&R man's ideal. Here we have the ideal result. The wonderful blend of organ and tenor sax in 10 beautiful tunes! Not a Muzak-inspired dull date, but rather the rare combination of jazz and danceable pop that makes great records. Phil Urso has left an indelible stamp on both the world of popular and jazz music that rates him this LP. One of the wailing "Four Brothers" from the Woody Herman 1950 band, Phil is a local Jersey boy who has traveled the circuit from Elliott Lawrence to Woody Herman to Jimmy Dorsey to Birdland and the varying combos of Terry Gibbs, Miles Davis, Oscar Pettiford and Chet Baker. On this set he performs more as a "preacher of pops" than as jazzman. It's like say, Frank Sinatra. Sure he uses jazzman phrasing, sure he can make with changes in the harmonic structure, but when he utilizes only a few of his great powers, and the simplicity of his statements comes through... man that's a rendition!! Same thing here. Both men are well-grounded jazz musicians. Implying their jazz background and utilizing it to enhance melodic treatment rather than distort it, they have created a thing of beauty. Bob Banks is an outstanding pianist, organist and teacher, arranger, composer, leader and accompanist from North Jersey and the New York recording field. Although many of his efforts have appeared under the name "Rhythm and Blues" he is still an outstanding Jazz musician in his own right, besides his other attributes. He has recorded for Savoy Records under his own name with his trio on instrumental hits. Of the 12 tunes heard, only one The Blues, is an original, three are recent pop tunes, and the balance are standards known and loved by American music-lovers for years. Incidental drum accompaniment on several sides is by Red Alcott. – H. Alan Stein

The back cover was apparently not proofed which allowed for the misspelling of "Sax(a)phone" when crediting Phil Urso and the mention of "10 tunes" (which there are) and, later in the copy "12 tunes" including a tune "The Blues" which is a track that does not appear on this set.

Moonlight Serenade

Diane

A Woman In Love

11th Hour Melody

Nothing Ever Changes My Love For You

Memories Of  You

They Can't Take That Away From Me

Blue To Remember Her By

My Heart Tells Me

Sentimental Journey