The Oxnard Sessions, Vol. 2

by Ron WynnMike Garson has invested in star power to punch up The Oxnard Sessions, Volume Two. The disc features a smaller group (piano/bass/drums/sax) and gives Garson a lot more solo room this time out. Drummer Ralph Humphrey shows more facility with a backbeat than Billy Mintz, who does appear on one alternate take. Saxophonist Eric Marienthal, a powerhouse type whose spurts and squeals add some excitement to even his most shrill and pop-oriented solos, also gets room to show his talents. The selections are more jazz and standard-oriented than before, and Garson and his mates demonstrate much more integrity than at any time on the previous release.