Cy Touff & Sandy Mosse: Tickle Toe

Time has its wrinkles. Within its folds can lie discoveries that make the heart happy like this album recorded by Cy Touff (bass trumpet) and Sandy Mosse (tenor sax) in 1981. The two had called on John Campbell (piano), Kelly Sill (bass) and Jerry Coleman (drums) and entered Universal Studios for a session of mainstream tunes. However, the music lay dormant for several years. The dust has finally been cleared and the music has now been released.

Touff and Mosse had played together during the fifties before the latter moved to Amsterdam. That the empathy between them had not diminished is strongly manifested here. Not only do they find companion and foil in each other, the rhythm section is in with the weave. To make it all just about perfect, they communicate the magic that transpired on that day to the listener.

"Tickle Toe" has been woven into the tapestry of several musicians. Touff and Mosse play off a well-arranged chart that lets them swing. Mosse is elegant in his phrasing. As he rides the beat, he layers it with well-defined ideas. It's a fine take-off point for Touff who is earthier thanks to the tonality of the bass trumpet. What could be better than a perfect meshing of minds and the juxtaposition of instruments whose pitch differs? Between the two is the luxuriant Campbell who lets the piano dance its own happy jig.

"Keester Parade" brings in a change of mood and pulse as the blues wind their slow way in. Mosse heralds the greeting with linear phrases while Touff wraps the bass trumpet around them. The repetitive phrase gains ground, Mosse bursts through with hard blowing and changes the dimension. Touff and Campbell add to the structure with free flowing runs. It's a finite piece of work that in the final framing pulsates with life.

Happiness abounds in the air of "Secret Love." The progression is built on agile shifts of rhythm and harmony. New Orleans finds a rousing stomping ground as the band takes it away and indulges in the melody before they bring on some happy swing.

The music still sounds spontaneous and fresh. And to be sure, it is downright enjoyable.