Controlled Nonchalance At The Regatta Bar Vol. 1

by Scott Yanow Cornetist Ruby Braff has teamed up with tenor-saxophonist Scott Hamilton on several occasions and the combination always proves to be exciting. This live sextet session, which also features the great swing pianist Dave McKenna and guitarist Gray Sargent, finds the classic players bringing new life to eight veteran standards including "Rosetta," "Struttin' with Some Barbecue" and "The Lady Is a Tramp." Braff in particular is full of subtle surprises and sly humor, spontaneously concluding a slower-than-usual version of "Sunday" with a quick tribute to Louis Armstrong. Dixieland and swing fans should go out of their way to get this one.