(mainstream jazz, vibraphone jazz) [CD] Peter Appleyard (with Major Holley, Butch Miles, Bucky Pizzarelli, Rick Wilkins) - Barbados Heat - 1990, FLAC (tracks), lossless

Scott Yanow --
A versatile vibraphonist capable of doing close musical and verbal imitations of Lionel Hampton, Red Norvo, Milt Jackson, and Terry Gibbs, Peter Appleyard is a superior swing player. His wide-ranging career included playing drums in English dance bands, a period spent living in Bermuda (before settling in Canada in 1951), and a busy career in the studios. He was with Calvin Jackson's quartet in the mid-'50s, toured with Benny Goodman in the early '70s, and hosted a musical television series in Canada during 1977-1979 (Peter Appleyard Presents). Appleyard, who has appeared at many festivals through the years, has led his own record dates since 1956, including sets for Canadian RCA, Audio Fidelity, Dauntless, and two 1990 albums for Concord.

Dave Nathan --
Originally starting out as a drummer in his native England, Peter Appleyard switched to the vibes in 1951 after moving to Toronto. Beginning in 1956, he started cutting albums for several Canadian record companies before moving over to Concord Jazz. Barbados Heat is the first release for that company. Joined by a top-flight rhythm section of Major Holley, Butch Miles, and Bucky Pizzarelli as well as fellow Canadian Rick Wilkins playing tenor, this live session becomes a swinging affair as this experienced group plays and improvises on a set of eight familiar pieces of music. The ageless "Body and Soul," as much as any of the cuts, allows each player to stretch out, with top billing going to the tenor work of Wilkins, given that this tune is the tenor sax players' anthem. The quintet keeps matters quite simple, sticking to straight, mainstream jazz versions of the items on the play list and creating a jam session effect, as typified by "Take the 'A' Train." That cut is highlighted by clever walking bass by Holley and hard-driving guitar by Pizzarelli. Throughout, Appleyard's playing is clean and resonant, much in the manner of Terry Gibbs. The album's coda is a reminder that Appleyard spent some time with Benny Goodman. It is generally conceded that Appleyard is one of the top vibes players in the world. This album does not take away from that auspicious ranking.

Peter Appleyard - vibraphone
Major Holley - acoustic bass
Butch Miles - drums
Bucky Pizzarelli - guitar
Rick Wilkins - tenor saxophone
Recorded Live at Frank Collymore Hall, Barbados Feb 17th & 18th, 1990 using DAT Direct to digital two track.
A McJazz Barbados Festival '90 Presentation.