'Shuzzed' is a quartet album from leading jazz French horn player Jim Rattigan, described by The Rough Guide to Jazz as "a brilliant and versatile jazz soloist on French Horn and an interesting and questing composer/arranger". Jim is joined by guitarist Phil Robson, bassist Phil Donkin and drummer Gene Calderazzo to perform three of his own compositions and six jazz standards. Jim's compositions are quirky, colourful and intriguing. "Shuzzed" struts along majestically on a walking bass with a curious interplay between the guitar and the horn, "Mung Beans" is a very catching angular blues in the manner of Charlie Parker and "Timbuckthree" is enjoyably brisk, virtuosic and well structured. The other six tracks include "Giant Steps" (John Coltrane), "Sweet Rain" (Mike Gibbs) and "Cherokee" (Ray Noble) and are all brilliantly executed and thoroughly explore the many combinations of guitar and horn sounds. Personnel: Jim Rattigan (French horn), Phil Robson (guitar), Phil Donkin (bass), Gene Calderazzo (drums)
