West Side Horns - San Quilmas

Based in San Antonio, Texas, this sextet (three saxes, trumpet, keyboards and bass) - here augmented by a guitarist and drummer - have each worked extensively with a variety of R&B groups and bands, including those of Bobby Bland and Doug Sahm. Three of the band have intermittently worked with Sahm for a long time, the bass player being the original bassist with the Sir Douglas Quintet. On this CD they play a good solid set of studio recordings with a spontaneous groove, mixing R&B with some jazzier tunes. Along with two originals there are favourites remembered from Bill Doggett (Rainbow Riot), Donald Byrd (Funky Mama), Lou Donaldson (Alligator Boogaloo), Freddy King (High Rise), Mal Waldron (Blue Greens 'n' Beans) and Joe Zawinul (Mercy, Mercy, Mercy). Also three vocal blues classics from the pen of the great Jimmy Reed, You Got Me Dizzy, You Don't Have To Go and The Sun Is Shining.