Steve Allen was a jack of all trades as a comedian, television star, author, musician, and prolific composer, but he has been dismissed by a lot of critics as a lightweight performer and songwriter.
Allen never clamed to rival
Art Tatum as a pianist, or the likes of
Cole Porter or
Duke Ellington as a composer; he saw himself as an entertainer first. Surrounded by a strong supporting cast during this live engagement at the
Roundtable (with
Allen hamming it up on the cover photo in a suit of armor),
Allen doesn't hog the spotlight but keeps his solos rather brief and gives his sidemen plenty of solo space. His opener
"Roundtable Boogie" features guitarist
Mundell Lowe, vibraphonist
Terry Gibbs, and clarinetist
Gus Bivona; while
Allen isn't in the league of
Meade Lux Lewis and
Pete Johnson, he is a more than competent
boogie-woogie player (he was once complimented on his
boogie-woogie playing by
Teddy Wilson, who confessed he had problems playing it himself!).
Gibbs swings like mad in a fun-filled take of
"I Got Rhythm." "Even Stephen" is actually a wild reworking of
"Jeepers Creepers." Doc Severinson adds his swinging trumpet to
Allen's rousing closer,
"Baby, But You Did." Although this won't be an essential recording for the average
jazz fan, anyone who enjoys
Steve Allen will be delighted to acquire this record. ~ Ken Dryden
