Brian Ogilvie: For You

Brian Ogilvie’s debut recording For You is an upbeat stroll through a lineup of attractive tunes mostly culled from the 1920’s to the 1940’s. Ogilvie’s saxophone or clarinet is accompanied by an excellent band of pros including John Sheridan on piano, Phil Flanigan on bass, and Jeff Hamilton on drums. Dan Barrett adds trombone or cornet on a half dozen cuts. This is a band that sounds like a group of old friends gathered together to play the music they love.

Ogilvie is a veteran of the Jim Cullum Jazz Band and has also worked as a sideman for a list of big name players including Clark Terry and Doc Cheatham. On this recording his clarinet work on “Nature Boy” and on the Ellington/Bigard tune “Ducky Wucky” are highlights of the session. He also plays a memorable bluesy tenor on Wardell Gray’s classic “Twisted.” John Sheridan is outstanding throughout. His solo and accompaniment work on “All Too Soon” is a good example of his wide ranging mastery of the swing medium. Comfortable, layed back, and intelligent, Sheridan is consistently at the center of the action.

Phil Flanigan and Jeff Hamilton provide a swinging foundation for the band. Flanigan’s solo work is generally too short but it’s sweet with “Tricotism” being a particularly good vehicle for his talents. Jeff Hamilton’s tasteful, light touch can be overlooked by the casual listener, but a pause to listen to his subtle interaction with Flanigan will help illuminate why this session is such a success.

In summary, this is a solid debut release by a group that isn’t the least bit concerned that they’re a half century or so behind the times. After listening to this recording you might begin to wonder if they’re not onto something.