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Just a Few (Shorty Rogers)

This band and crowd favorite is one of Shorty Rogers' happiest tunes, composed for and first recorded by his West Coast quintet in 1954. That band consisted of Rogers (flugelhorn, which he had taken up shortly before the LA recording session), Bud Shank (alto sax), Jimmy Rowles (piano), Harry Babasin (bass), and Roy Harte (drums).

The Safe Sax version is voiced for the "Four Brothers" sound (three tenor saxes and a baritone sax). At the end of this sample, you'll hear the opening bars of Steve Koerner's assertive solo.

Safe Sax musicians include Mario Mongello (lead tenor sax), Steve Koerner (tenor sax), Herman Reyes (tenor sax), Glenn Broadhead (baritone sax), Bill Reda (guitar), Michael Daly (bass), and Steve Magnone (drums).

Recorded in 2007 by Nick Eipers and his students at Columbia College (Chicago).