I've been listening to a lot of recently acquired tracks by the, oft mentioned within these pages, tenorist Richie Kamuca. They are brilliant.
However, Richie is not the only star; trombonist Frank Rosolino is, for me, the revelation. I'd known his work with Kenton - "Frank Speaking" was an outstanding feature - but had heard little of him until his untimely death in 1978.
On these sides, he sounds like a smooth Bill Harris or, conversely, a rough Urbie Green. Whatever, the result is some driving slidework from a greatly underrated player.
His vocal chops weren't bad either!
His death was a tragedy. In a state of deep depression, he shot his two children before turning the gun on himself.
He was 52 years old.
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