Strollin’
Strollin’
Label: Stash Records
Year: 1987
Gene Bertoncini, guitar
Michael Moore, bass
track list
Strollin’ (Prelude, Alone Together) / Sweet Georgia Brown / Moonlight in Vermont / Limehouse Blues / Wave (Un Bel Di, Poor Butterfly) / Li’l Suzi, Blue Monk
Gene Bertoncini and Michael Moore continued their partnership in 1987 with a fourth album together (which was their second and final recording for Stash). Unlike their previous release, Strollin' featured a heavier mix of standards and well-known jazz compositions, drawing from the eras of swing, bop, hard bop, and soul-jazz, though it also delved into bossa nova and classical music, all arranged by Bertoncini. A stunning introduction of Robert de Visée's "Prelude" segues into the richly textured "Alone Together," highlighted by Moore's arco bass opening and Bertoncini's incredibly light, swinging playing. No less stunning is another medley, which combines Ray Bryant's "Li'l Suzi" and Thelonious Monk's "Blue Monk." Four of this LP's eight tracks were reissued on the Stash CD compilation The Art of the Duo, though it is also unavailable, since the label is no longer in existence.