Flip Phillips - Flipenstein (2020)

Calling this LP a monster album does not only refer to the excellent playing of tenor saxophonist Flip Phillips, pianist Lou Stein, bassist Michael Moore and drummer Butch Miles; the titles of the eight songs all have something to do with monsters of one sort or another. Three standards -- "Satin Takes a Holiday," "Witchcraft" and "Ghost of a Chance" -- are joined by five tunes written by Phillips and/or Stein (Vampire's Dream," "Dracula's Dance," "Ghoul of My Dreams," "Hangman's Noose" and "The Claw"). The music is mostly hard-driving, high-quality mainstream jazz. This highly enjoyable album is long overdue to be reissued on CD. ~ Scott Yanow