Now and Then marked
Buddy Collette's first recording in nine years, but this subtle pair of West Coast sessions was well worth the wait. Known primarily for his prowess on flute, he also is heard playing some rather robust tenor sax and alto sax. His seven originals are subtle, giving his bandmates (including trumpeter
Al Aarons and trombonist
Grover Mitchell) plenty of opportunity for blowing. The rhythm section varies slightly between the two dates, with guitarist
Al Viola,
Red Callendar on bass (moving to tuba when
Leroy Vinnegar is added), and either
Frank Severino or Frank Chavez on drums. The LP was released by the small but promising Legend label, which issued a number of fine records like this album during the 1970s before ceasing operations.
–
Ken Dryden, Rovi