VIP Trio
Originally released in 1988 under the name of the V.I.P. Trio, as audiophile recording—intended solely for the Japanese market. Veteran bassist Pat Senatore produced the album Standards, which puts him in the legendary company of pianist Cedar Walton and drummer Billy Higgins. Senatore’s soulful and lyrical bass shines in a program of jazz standards.
In the mid 1980s, Walton had relocated to California, working up and down the coast, out to Japan, and back to New York when he was booked there. Senatore had a record deal with Japanese businessman Ken Akemoto, who stopped over in Los Angeles to record a handful of albums. The bassist chose Walton—even then one of the standardbearers of mainstream jazz piano—though they had never worked together before. Higgins was Walton’s drummer of choice and had been the house drummer at Senatore’s Malibu jazz club Pasquale’s.
Though Senatore was the...