Tough Assignment: Tribute To Dave Tough (2000)

About this title: The drumming son of pianist Ed Metz, Ed Metz, Jr. plays music that was interpreted by early swing and big-band drummer Dave Tough, a stalwart with the bands of Red Nichols, Claude Thornhill, the Dorseys, Artie Shaw, and Woody Herman. While Metz, 41, is no doubt an engaging, literate, standout drummer, he's picked a backup band truly capable of fueling his swinging fire: Trumpeter Randy Sandke, trombonist John Allred, tenor saxophonist Harry Allen, clarinetist Allan Vaché, pianist Johnny Varro, and bassist Phil Flanigan take this music to heart and swing their collective butt off. This CD is ... read more

Tracks:

1. Smiles [Roberts/Callahan]
2. It All Belongs to Me [Berlin]
3. Moanin' Low [Dietz/Rainger]
4. Waiting at the End of the Road [Berlin]
5. Beale Street Blues [Handy]
6. It's Been So Long [Donaldson/Adamson]
7. Sophisticated Swing [Hudson/Parish]
8. At the Codfish Ball [Pollack/Mitchell]
9. Why Begin Again [Shaw/Shavers/Raye]
10. I Hadn't Anyone Till You [Noble]
11. Lover, Come Back to Me [Romberg/Hammerstein]
12. Hindustan [Wallace/Weeks]
13. Not Too Tough
14. Tough Sledding [Metz]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.