Boots Randolph: A Whole New Ballgame

Randolph joins Joachim Becker's "Roots imprint of Zoho Music, alongside Bonnie Bramlett's Roots, Blues, and Jazz (2006), Ike Turner's Roots, Blues, and Jazz (2006), and Jimmy Hall's Build Your Own Fire (2007). I am not sure where Becker's A&R genius is emerging from, but keep it coming.

Randolph is definitely a country music artist. The best way to describe his approach is to say that he plays like George Jones sings—impeccably, and with a precision never given to sloppiness or fluff notes. A Whole New Ball Game is a very diverse recording with elements that should appeal to listeners of jazz, popular, and country music. "I'm Beginning to See the Light has a country-gospel personality and a sunny disposition only sharpened by Randolph's huge tone.

Charlie Parker's "Billie's Bounce (misspelled on the disc as "Billy's Bounce ) is a breezy bop walk appropriately accented by pianist Steve Willets and guitarist Roddy Smith. This is not your mother's bebop; then again, maybe it is. "I'll Be Seeing You and "Cry Me a River border on the ultra-sentimental with synthesized strings and Lawrence Welk Show pacing, but in no way is it bad. The song appeals to this writer's sense of nostalgia for just those reasons.

"Take Me out to the Ball Game is pure bop while the old Louis Armstrong standard "Candy is full of gospel music smells and bells. "Basically Blues is what all fans of the "Texas Tenor sound should be waiting for because Randolph delivers with a full-throated performance that thrills. If you are expecting John Coltrane blues, forget it. This is straight down the middle. "'Round Midnight is deftly played, even though it might be considered outside of Randolph's milieu. "Stompin' at the Savoy is all swing.

A Whole New Ballgame is a fun nostalgic romp by a capable veteran. Many readers may think it is "square (to use the old vernacular). But one thing the disc cannot be denied is its honesty and sincerity. If you don't believe it, listen to the solo fragment on "Nature Boy that closes the disc.

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