"These two jazz giants met for a duet recording session with the resulting sides released in 1976. This startling document of two swing era stylists joining forces has been re-issued on Classic Jazz Records as "Zoot Sims With Bucky Pizzarelli." Both men are on full and total display, as the sparse nature of a duet leaves no room to hide. The two seem to act as one and certainly need no rhythm section to swing hard. Sims and Pizzarelli run through a program of mostly familiar tunes. "What is This Thing Called Love" and "There Will Never Be Another You" are handled in medium/up tempo swing. Pizzarelli sets the feel for each performance. Sims delivers the melodies in a clean, pure tone, full of warmth and vibrato. Pizzarelli comps energetically behind him and takes strong unaccompanied solos. The blues is well represented with such tunes as "Tooz Blues" and "Mynah Blooze." Pizzarelli lays into some slick guitar riffs throughout the latter. Both men are clearly in their element with the traditional song form. Sims' ballad tone is full and rich and he delivers a gentle melody like no other. "Watch What Happens" and "Willow Weep For Me" are fine examples -- the latter featuring the only non-sax or guitar sound, with a gentle ringing of chimes. The final two tunes, "Take Ten" and "Not So Deep," are both medium swing numbers. Again, Sins delivers the melodies while Pizzarelli comps sympathetically and both men follow with strong improvisations. "Zoot Sims with Bucky Pizzarelli" is a wonderful tribute to two men who were able to retain their swing roots while still sounding fresh and alive. This music was recorded during the height of the "funky-jazz" fusion styles and amidst the new sounds of synthesizers and electronic keyboards. While the instrumentation and the style are from a much older era, the musicality is as fresh and new as jazz from the swing era, the fusion era, or today's contemporary music. Good is good -- young, old, or anywhere in between." --Dave Miele, "Jazz Improv NY" 02/09Tenor-saxophonist Zoot Sims's "friend" on this LP is guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and together they perform eight highly enjoyable duets although, at under 32 minutes, this album is overly brief. However what is here is excellent with the highlights including "What Is This Thing Called Love," "Take Ten" and "There Will Never Be Another You." --Scott Yanow, All Music GuideTenor saxist Zoot Sims swung like very few others. Blessed with a warm tone, he could breath life into almost any song. Joining forces with four-to-the-bar soulmate and 7 string guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, Sims croons like Tony Bennett through just under 40 minutes on this joyful 78 session. The Spartan surroundings actually frees up the musicians as these gents coax each other on uptempo tunes like There Will Never Be Another You, while squeezing out every ounce of from the succulent Watch What Happens and Willow Weep For Me. Can anyone around do it like this anymore? --George Harris, Jazz Weekly