Song:(I Wonder) Where Our Love Has Gone
Album:If I'm Lucky
Sax player John "Zoot" Sims started out in big bands but by the 70s he had a very successful solo career. Pianist Jimmy Rowles was more sideman than leader and recorded several albums with Sims in the late 70s. Sims was born Oct. 29, 1925 in Inglewood, CA. His parents were in vaudeville. Heavily influenced by Lester Young, he got the nickname Zoot while in Kenny Baker's band in the early 40s. After stints with Benny Goodman, Sid Catlett and the US Army during WWII, He made his name as one of Woody Herman's Four Brothers. His band with Al Cohn during the 60s was very successful. Sims moved to New York in 1973 and signed with Verve Records founder Norman Granz' new label Pablo Records. Rowles was born Aug. 19, 1918 in Spokane, WA and moved to Los Angeles in the early 40s. So I'm sure Sims and Rowles crossed paths many times. Though Rowles sometimes recorded as a leader, he was primarily an accompanist and studio musician. He worked with Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald. He moved to New York in 1973. Sims and Rowles recorded several albums together for Pablo including If I'm Lucky in 1977. Other musicians are Czech born bassist George Mraz who had been on some of Sims' other Pablo albums and Elmer "Mousey" Alexander on drums. He replaced Gene Krupa in the Benny Goodman band. Rowles chose the songs and wrote the arrangements. (I Wonder) Where Our Love Has Gone was written and first recorded by pianist Buddy Johnson in 1948 with vocals by Arthur Prysock. Only someone as knowledgeable as Rowles would know a song like that. Sims and Rowles continued to work together until Sims died on Mar. 23, 1985 at age 59. Rowles recorded (I Wonder) Where Our Love Has Gone on his 1994 album Lilac Time. I think that was his final album before his death on May 28, 1996 at age 77. Here's a video for (I Wonder) Where Our Love Has Gone by Zoot Sims and Jimmy Rowles.
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