May 1999

Robert "Bootsie" Barnes
Hello
French Rivera

By Owen Cordle

Philadelphia tenor man Barnes plays in a classic style reminiscent of Gene Ammons and Hank Mobley. This album contains predominantly ballads - "Lament," "Chelsea Bridge," "The Summer Knows," "Autumn in New York," et. al.-which Barnes and company (a quartet plus guests) deliver in warm, mellow tones. You could call this "mood jazz." Barnes retains the character of each tune in his improvisation, and the whole album serves the art of melodic exposition and jazz extemporization with integrity.