Bud Shank

Proof positive that any well-executed idea translates to the jazz idiom -- snobs and purists be damned -- The Swing's to TV pairs altoist Bud Shank and tenorist Bob Cooper for a moody, nuanced collection of late-'50s television theme songs. Granted, it's not like the duo is interpreting the opening themes to Gilligan's Island or The Brady Bunch -- at the time in question, many series employed familiar standards as calling cards -- but the basic concept behind the session is the kind of populist nod one rarely associates with cool-school jazz. Thing is, The Swing's to TV is great stuff, a cerebral and atmospheric set of ballads performed with sincerity and affection -- Shank and Cooper always make for a compelling tandem, and songs like "When You Wish Upon a Star" and "Put Your Dreams Away" are well matched to their respective talents. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide