Album review: We Like Ike - 100th Birthday Tribute to Jazz Guitar Legend Ike Isaacs

The other day I received a compilation CD paying tribute to guitarist Ike Isaacs who passed away in 1996. The album was put together last year to mark what would have been his 100th birthday on Dec. 1, 2019 so we are a long way down the pecking order still, it did have to come from Australia which is where Ike spent his final years and where he amassed a huge fan base.

The album kicks off with Martin Taylor, who also paid a glowing tribute to his former mentor in the accompanying booklet, and finishes with a track by Ike himself.

In between there are tracks by an assortment of guitarists, some better known than others, but all deeply immersed in the Isaacs tradition.

Interestingly there's a track by American tenor saxist Harry Allen that doesn't include any guitars. However, it is dedicated by Harry to Ike and another fine guitarist - Cedric West. The title is Out of Rangoon - both guitarists were born in Rangoon.

Frank Holder sings Fly me to the Moon but it would be unfair to single out any one track out as being above the rest. What is shown is the love and respect by musicians to a fellow musician who is sometimes overlooked in the lists of all-time greats.

Order now via the usual suspects and you should get for this Xmas...

This 2011 post by Maurice Summerfield may also be of interest to fans of the late great guitarist.

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