A TIME FOR LOVE: JOHN DOUGHTEN: SUNNYSIDE SSC 1073D

John Doughten (ts, bar, cl); Eddie Higgins (p); Phil Flanigan (b); Danny Burger (d). Fort Lauderdale, March, 1996.
YOU'D BE SO NICE TO COME HOME TO/ STARS FELL ON ALABAMA/ ONCE I LOVED/ BODY AND SOUL/ ON THE ALAMO/ A TIME FOR LOVE/ BUT BEAUTIFUL/ LET'S FALL IN LOVE/ LITTLE GIRL BLUE/ I REMEMBER YOU/ POLKA DOTS AND MOONBEAMS/ AFTER YOU'VE GONE. Time: 60:35

One of the few flaws in the otherwise excellent 1997 Elkhart Jazz Festival was a succession of saxophone players who apparently think many notes played at top volume is a substitute for music. My perceptive wife had just suggested that in the future the festival should invite only clarinet players, when we were treated to some beautiful Getz-like solos by an unbilled tenor player wearing an audience pass. We learned his name, John Doughten, and were reminded that we'd enjoyed hearing him before on his first record, as a guest soloist with Eddie Higgins.

Doughten has spent most of his professional life as a computer programmer, but on a Norway cruise, he asked Higgins if he might sit in. Higgins is no pushover, so it's quite a tribute that he immediately added Doughten to his Norway group and then shared several tracks on his good 1994 Sunnyside disc Zoot's Hymns (SSC 1064D). A Time for Love is also with Higgins's regular Florida trio, but this time John Doughten is the principal soloist on all tracks. He's "retired" from computer programming and is now a full-time professional musician.

A Time for Love is a total pleasure. Doughten belongs to the line of melodic improvisors that through Lester Young goes back to Beiderbecke and Trumbauer. His tenor is stylistically and musically in a class with Getz and Sims, and although he probably couldn't wear a size 37 suit, he doubles on clarinet and baritone. On those selections, he displays respect for Goodman and Mulligan. The choice of songs shows very good taste and Doughten's performances deliver consistently inventive melodies, beautiful tone, and perfect time. The Higgins trio provides sensitive swinging support at all tempos, and the group delivers several tasty sets of fours.

John Doughten has spent a lot of time in festival and cruise audiences. One hopes that in the future, he'll be wearing a musician's pass. He certainly merits the company of travelling regulars like Higgins, Bobby Lewis, Dan Barrett, and Butch Miles. And they certainly can use a compatible tenor player.