Enzo Randisi - Mister Vibes Randisi Plays Milt (2002)

Many great jazz musicians deserve to be honored for their contributions to the music, though a tribute album by someone who plays the same instrument, with a group modeled after the one commonly used by the honoree, is inviting trouble. This is not vibraphonist Enzo Randisi's first tribute to Milt Jackson, as he did at least one earlier CD for Splasc(h). But devoting an entire set almost wholly composed of pieces written by either Jackson or John Lewis, or standards they played together during their long association in the Modern Jazz Quartet, is very risky. While Randisi is a competent performer, he hardly has a distinctive approach to the vibes. Pianist Giovanni Mazzarino and bassist Luciano Milanese are frequently relegated to the background, as Bobby Durham's drums are far too prominent in the mix during a major portion of the concert. One happy exception is "Django," though extraneous vibrations from Durham's drum kit prove to be distracting at times. The old standard "I'll Remember April" is tackled at full gallop, and includes some of the best solos of the evening. But most jazz fans will likely turn to the widely available recordings of these songs by the Modern Jazz Quartet, rather than purchase this lackluster salute. © Ken Dryden