Joe Holiday
Mambo Jazz (Motown 0648)

There's not much spark but a lot of mood to this CD reissue of some early-'50s Prestige jazz featuring tenor sax player Joe Holiday. The lazy but "cool" cover art is a good indication of the music contained within.

While nothing particularly stands out, overall this is a listenable little release. The mambo bit is pretty watered down, and "Chasin' the Bongo" is mainly ridiculous, but I can't say this is a bad record, really.

In fact, I want to say this is some great undiscovered gem, but it just isn't. Sometimes laid-back is just asleep, man.

A tad overlong, too, but devotees of the genre won't mind. Stick to the real thing, though, if given a choice.

Loud Bassoon rating scale

Review by Nina Wonderful