Cincinnati to L.A.

A fine swing-to-bop guitarist from Cincinnati, Cal Collins for a few years recorded regularly for the Concord label and toured with Scott Hamilton and various swing all-stars. On this excellent LP (not yet reissued on CD), Collins is in excellent form and very much in the spotlight, being joined by bassist Monty Budwig and drummer Jake Hanna. Collins' relaxed style, which is full of subtle creativity, is heard at its best on such numbers as "Soon," "I Hear a Rhapsody," "Close Your Eyes," and "The Touch of Your Lips. A swinging, if obscure, set.