Zoot Sims, Phil Woods & Al Cohn: Jazz Alive! A Night at the Half Note

Jazz Alive! A Night at the Half Note is a live album by saxophonists Zoot Sims, Al Cohn and Phil Woods recorded at the Half Note Club in 1959 and originally released on the United Artists label.^[1][2]

Jazz Alive: A Night at the Half Note Review

 

by Ken Dryden

Zoot Sims and Al Cohn always made great music together; this live recording documents portions of two nights' work together at the Half Note in New York City, assisted by pianist Mose Allison, bassist Nabil Totah and drummer Paul Motian. Their brisk setting of "Lover, Come Back to Me" features Cohn, Sims and Allison soloing in turn, building the fire before the eventual trading of fours between the tenor saxophonists. After a relaxed rendition of "It Had to Be You," alto saxophonist Phil Woods is added to the mix for the next two numbers, recorded the very next evening. The guest sets up the percolating mid-tempo setting of "Wee Dot," with the tenors following him. The delightful interplay within the long workout of "After You've Gone" signals the chemistry between the three friends. Bop and cool fans will want to make any effort to hear this excellent release 

Zoot Sims, Phil Woods & Al Cohn   Jazz Alive! A Night at the Half Note

1. "Lover, Come Back to Me" (Sigmund Romberg, Oscar Hammerstein II) - 9:08
2. "It Had to Be You" (Isham Jones, Gus Kahn) - 10:14
3. "Wee Dot" (J. J. Johnson) - 8:50
4. "After You've Gone" (Turner Layton, Henry Creamer) - 11:37

• Recorded at the Half Note in NYC on February 6, 1959 (tracks 1 & 2) and February 7, 1959 (tracks 3 & 4

• Zoot Sims, Al Cohn - tenor saxophone
• Phil Woods - alto saxophone (tracks 3 & 4)
• Mose Allison - piano
• Nabil "Knobby" Totah - bass
• Paul Motian - drums