Dave Cliff - When Lights Are Low (2016)

Tracklist

01. When Lights Are Low
02. Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me
03. Jingles
04. Purple Gazelle
05. The Nearness of You
06. Falling in Love with Love
07. In My Solitude
08. West Coast Blues
09. Autumn in New York / Too Late Now (Solo)
10. I'm Getting Sentimental over You
11. The Shadow of Your Smile
12. You Stepped out of a Dream

Dave Cliff is well known in English jazz circles, though not as well in the U.S. These mid-'90s sessions for Zephyr feature the veteran guitarist with the younger American jazz guitarists Howard Alden (who was touring the U.K.) as a guest on eight tracks, along with bassist Dave Green and drummer Allan Ganley. The two guitarists' styles complement one another very well, as both are lyrical players with an intimate knowledge of a vast repertoire of standards and jazz compositions, both swing and bop. Their magical duets of a trio of Duke Ellington songs, including a tantalizing "Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me," the lively "Purple Gazelle," and a relaxed "In My Solitude" are the obvious highlights. The full quartet is present on four selections, including a lightly swinging take of Wes Montgomery's "West Coast Blues" and a breezy rendition of "You Stepped out of a Dream." Cliff plays three duets with Green, delivering a superb take of Montgomery's "Jingles," while he is unaccompanied on the lush medley of "Autumn in New York" and "Too Late Now."

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