Best known as an arranger for singers and for commercial sessions,
Buddy Bregman led one full-fledged jazz instrumental date,
Swinging Kicks. Because many of the selections are brief (seven are under two minutes) and due to the intriguing titles, this seems a bit like a soundtrack to a film that was never made. However, few of the tracks seem truncated and there are some excellent solos along the way, particularly from
Ben Webster,
Conte Candoli,
Herb Geller,
Bud Shank, and
Paul Smith. The personnel changes from cut to cut, ranging from a 19-piece big band with screaming trumpet playing from
Maynard Ferguson and
Conrad Gozzo to various combos, a
Ben Webster/
André Previn duet on "Kicks Is in Love," and a rapid workout for
Paul Smith on "Go Kicks."
Bregman uses some of the top West Coast jazz players and various musicians who were on Verve at the time, with
Stan Getz making a guest appearance on "Honey Chile." Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow