Both sessions date from a period when former Basie-ite Tate was often in Europe, playing clubs and festivals as a soloist or in all-star groups. Born in Sherman, Texas, he was regularly teamed with his fellow Texans, Arnett Cobb and Illinois Jacquet as ‘The Texas Tenors’. Tate has the full-toned, slightly wheezy sound that seems de rigeur in this kind of mainstream jazz, which allied to his vigorous phrasing and innate sense of swing, makes for very rewarding listening indeed. Montoliu and company may not offer Tate his usual four-square rhythm support, the pianist consistently inventive in unexpected ways, with Stief's long sustain and Nørregard's clatter not always making for a satisfactory groove. Tate, as he must have done for years, largely rides over it all, taking a grip on something like ‘Stompin’ at the Savoy’ after Montoliu's idiosyncratic solo and building to a finish that fringes on R&B. It's all vastly entertaining, if chaotic at times. He lets his vibrato loose on ‘Body and Soul’ in imperious fashion and then it's a shouting match on ‘Buddy's Blues’. This is the fourth appearance for this session in one or other formats on this Danish label. The second in this pair of Tate sessions, (also previously out on Storyville CD) finds the main protagonist alongside a bunch of like-minded fellow Americans, all seasoned veterans, over in Europe for the festival round. It's easy-going if you like, with a mostly Basie feel as on ‘Jive at Five’ [in two takes], as Guarnieri tinkles like the Count, before Tate shoulders in, Cheatham calmer and Dickenson chortles in his own inimitable way. ‘Sweethearts on Parade’ shows them all off superbly, each man subjecting the melody to a personal and distinctive re-evaluation, Cheatham muted and eloquent. Everyone is on form throughout, the band swings as you would expect, and Tate, at 60 evinces the kind of form that made him one of the greats of mainstream jazz. Definitely a keeper.