Titles - Birds of Brazil (1st Movement) / Birds of Brazil (2nd Movement) / Birds of Brazil (3rd Movement) / Angel Eyes / Moonray / Song For Keith / In Walked Bud.
"As Glasgow Herald jazz writer Rob Adams points out in the sleevenotes to this long-unavailable 1989 release, Scottish saxist Bobby Wellins deserves a composer's reputation alongside the illustrious one he's had as an improviser (his tone influenced by pipers and folk singers) for five decades. The title suite and a scattering of other tracks here come from early-80s recordings the saxophonist made with his quartet, a classical strings ensemble, with Kenny Wheeler guesting on trumpet, and featuring Tony Coe's subtle arrangements. The first movement's romantic string-swoops and extended bass solo drift a little, but Wellins is at his offhand, uptempo best, alongside an agile and then hypnotically reflective Wheeler, in the second movement, and the leader deploys all his tonal resources and personalised cool-school jazz phrasing in the third. There are also memorable interpretations of standards and jazz classics, including a luxuriously dark-toned Angel Eyes and a slick take on Thelonious Monk's In Walked Bud – plus a delicate personal tribute to Keith Jarrett from the Wellins quartet's late pianist Pete Jacobsen". John Fordham guardian.co.uk,
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