Going to the Movies

Movie themes, along with songs from Broadway, have long been fodder for jazz musicians. This United Artists LP features Jerome Richardson leading his working quintet during a live engagement, though the venue is unidentified. The extended workout of Duke Jordan's "No Problem" (from the film Les Liaisons Dangereuses) showcases Richardson's robust baritone sax and Les Spann on flute, with the leader adding a tag at the end on piccolo. Richardson switches to tenor sax and Spann to guitar for a rather brisk arrangement of "Moon River." "Tonight" (from West Side Story) is a bit unusual in that it features both musicians on flute. The potent rhythm section includes pianist Richard Wyands, bassist Henry Grimes, and drummer Grady Tate. Richardson's recordings as a leader after the early '60s were rather sporadic, but this early effort gives a strong indication of his potential. Long out of print, this LP will be difficult to acquire.