Bob Wilber and Kenny Davern have been at this a long time-a couple of decades each by the time they took up with one another as Soprano Summit in 1972. Wilber, who studied with the great Sidney Bechet, and Davern both bring great musicianship together with their love of traditional jazz, and play off one another beautifully as they navigate a mainstream course through material ranging from well-known to obscure gems. They are heard here in concert in Hamburg, Germany, from a 1994 date that found Wilber’s soprano sax and clarinet, and Davern’s clarinet matched with a sharp rhythm section from the U.K. Dave Cliff, guitar; Dave Green, bass; and Bobby Worth, drums. The program ranges from a rousing “Lady Be Good” to Jimmy Noone’s “Apex Blues,” and includes some ballad work on which Wilber’s reverence for Johnny Hodges sings through.
Bob Wilber/Kenny Davern: Summit Reunion
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