"The Soul of Ben Webster" by Ben Webster on Verve MG V-8359

4 Comments

"The Soul of Ben Webster" by Ben Webster on Verve MG V-8359

Top title by Webster with a great line-up.

Another great Ben Webster album and the second title by him in the collection. Looking for more. Webster was a great tenor player of course and I really enjoy his approach. On this title I’m happy to hear Art Farmer as well who slots in wonderfully together with Webster and Harold Ashby, who is the second tenorist. A great combination. Another great addition to this session is drummer Dave Bailey.

Original pressings of Webster on Verve seems to be quite hard to find in top shape. This copy plays with some pops and tics in spots, but the sound is very nice and clear. The recording quality is great. So I’m keeping this one unless I find an even better copy. But that is probably not easy I can imagine.

Check this one out if you haven’t already cause it’s lovely music, very soulful. A mix of romantic ballads, uptempo bop and blues-forward stuff.

4 Comments

"The Quintet/Live!" by Charles McPherson on Prestige PR 7480

4 Comments

"The Quintet/Live!" by Charles McPherson on Prestige PR 7480

The music is great, the sound could be better.

The Five Spot Café in New York hosted some great groups and this is no exception. Alto player Charles McPherson is another one of those cats I haven’t explored much. I’ve listened to “Con Alma” which is great, but other than that not much more. So this title is a nice addition and a good starting point in my explorations into his work.

All is revealed live and McPherson is a great player for sure. He has got a great band backing him, consisting of Lonnie Hillyer on trumpet, Barry Harris on piano, Ray McKinney on double bass and the great Billy Higgins on drums.

Live jazz albums are always interesting to me, cause they capture much of the core of what jazz is about. The spontaneous improvisation in front of a live audience. There are no retakes. What you do there and then is the final expression. It is what it is, there on the spot, and that nerve is very appealing to me.

One of the highlights of the album is Barry Harris’ solo on “Shaw ‘Nuff”. The fast paced waltz ”Suddenly” is a favorite with it’s dark undertones. Another great one is the mellow and calming 11 minute long ballad ”Never Let Me Go”.

This live recording could be a lot better for sure. Not the same quality as the Dolphy albums from the same club, far from it, but it’s ok. I’ve heard worse. That can be the drawback with live recordings from this era. Also, it’s not recorded by Van Gelder who recorded the Dolphy albums. I have the second volume and it sounds unbelievable.

Enjoyable album which you should check out if you enjoy live jazz captured on tape from the era.

4 Comments

"Bossa Nova Soul Samba" by Ike Quebec on Blue Note BLP 4114

4 Comments

"Bossa Nova Soul Samba" by Ike Quebec on Blue Note BLP 4114

A special Blue Note…

It’s hot and exotic, mellow and moody, sensual and calming, rhythmic and joyful. When I listen to this album I close my eyes and dream away. I’m walking the streets of Havana sipping on a rum and coke and puffing on a cigar. Or maybe I’m in Brazil where the bossa nova and samba was born.

It’s not your average hard bop Blue Note date. It’s very focused on the music of Brazil. This is  my first Ike Quebec title. His tone and phrasing is so smooth, warm and breathy. It fits perfectly with this kind of music. It warms the soul. I’ve come to really love this kind of approach to the tenor. It’s such a beautiful instrument, especially when it’s played in this way.

I’ve strayed a bit from my new approach to collecting when buying this title. It’s a sought after Blue Note, so the price is gonna be higher. But I figured that since this was a title I love and one I’ve been after for quite a while I felt it was worth it. The vinyl plays like new, amazing. Very happy to have been able to acquire this one.

Favorite picks from this lovely session are ”Loie”, ”Me ’n You”, ”Shu Shu” and ”Favela”, with the latter taking top spot.

4 Comments

"This is Hampton Hawes Vol. 2 The Trio" by Hampton Hawes on Contemporary C3515

2 Comments

"This is Hampton Hawes Vol. 2 The Trio" by Hampton Hawes on Contemporary C3515

Lyrical Hawes…

Acquired my first Hawes title late last year and got a great taste of his playing. This is a new addition and it’s a lovely album. It’s a trio with Hawes joined by Red Mitchell on double bass and Chuck Thompson on drums. Now I’m looking for Vol. 1.

Hawes was a wonderful pianist with a great sense of lyricism and he was definitely a top technical player as well. But it’s the melodic part of his playing that shines the brightest. I’m aiming to acquire more of his stuff.

Favorite pick for me is the wonderful ”Yesterdays”, and that one the leader himself had as a favorite tune on this album.

I love the cover art on this one with the black and white photo of Hawes by William Claxton, looking ever so cool.

2 Comments

"Out Front!" by Jaki Byard on Prestige PR 7397

Comment

"Out Front!" by Jaki Byard on Prestige PR 7397

The always interesting Jaki.

Jaki is a favorite as I’ve mentioned before. He was quite unique. He incorporated many different styles into his playing which makes his albums very interesting, and it lends itself to wanting to explore them over and over again. This album was recorded in May of 1964 except one track which was recorded in 1961. A few tunes have horns, with Booker Ervin and Richard Williams joining in on tenor and trumpet. Jaki also plays alto on the last tune and it sounds great. Very cool. It’s a diverse set for sure.

Favorite pick on this album is ”European Episode” which is a 12 minute dance suite in 6 parts (Jaki was apparently a dancer himself according to the liner notes), which he hoped to choreograph and present in concert with 12 dancers and a 17-piece orchestra. Don’t know if he ever did get to do that. Now, to have been able to attend such a concert would have been some experience I’m sure.

Jaki was a terrific pianist and composer and was always full of surprises and that’s why I love him.

Comment

"In the Bag" by The Nat Adderley Sextet on Jazzland JLP 75

2 Comments

"In the Bag" by The Nat Adderley Sextet on Jazzland JLP 75

Nat in New Orleans.

Great session here by Nat Adderley recorded in New Orleans which is quite unusual for a modern jazz recording. The Big Easy was of course the ancestral home of traditional jazz which makes it cool that this recording was made there. 

The personell consists of three very familiar names in modern jazz and three younger local cats from New Orleans. It’s Nat Adderley on cornet, Cannonball on alto, Nat Perrilliat on tenor, Ellis Marsalis on piano, Sam Jones on double bass and James Black on drums. Very unique group with the local talent, which makes it very interesting. The New Orleans cats hold their own for sure and I especially enjoy Perrilliat on tenor who is a wonderful player. So satisfying to discover a great but totally unknown player to me this late in my jazz explorations.

Favorite picks on this date is the moody ballad ”R.S.V.P”. Reminds me a bit of something from Johnny Coles. Lovely stuff. Also ”New Arrival”, an uptempo waltz, penned by the drummer on this date, James Black.

I dig the whole concept of this album, except maybe the recording quality, and urge anyone who haven’t heard this before to give it a shot.

2 Comments

"Fantastic Frank Strozier" by Frank Strozier on Vee-Jay VJLP 3005

6 Comments

"Fantastic Frank Strozier" by Frank Strozier on Vee-Jay VJLP 3005

Fantastic Strozier title featuring the great Booker Little.

My first title on the Vee-Jay label and it’s a banger. Really enjoy Strozier. And the band backing him are top notch. One cat in particular. Namely Booker Little, my favorite trumpeter, which makes this session all the more engaging. Great to hear him on this date which is more in the hard bop idiom, compared to the brilliant albums he recorded with Eric Dolphy and his own sessions on Candid and Bethlehem, which were more post bop. 

The other cats are Paul Chambers on double bass, Wynton Kelly on piano and Jimmy Cobb on drums. Pretty stellar personell, right? I really dig Cobb. He always played very tasteful and elegant and had a great sounding, delicate ride cymbal sound. This is a lovely recording. I’m very impressed. Will be keeping my eye out for more stuff on this label.

Strozier is perhaps a bit underrated among the great altoists in jazz. He shouldn’t be though, he was a brilliant player. Have two titles now with him as a leader and I’m looking for more.

Favorite tune has to be the Booker Little original ”Waltz of the Demons” and the Strozier original ”Runnin’”, which is an excercise in high speed virtuosity. Booker Littles solo on this is simply amazing. Then again, all of his solos are out of this world.

On a side note, I truly dig the label design on these old Vee-Jay titles. Looks a bit like an old 78 to me.

This album is highly recommended.

6 Comments

The Jaki Byard Quartet "Live! Vol. 2" on Prestige PRLP 7477

Comment

The Jaki Byard Quartet "Live! Vol. 2" on Prestige PRLP 7477

Vintage Jaki Byard…

Jaki Byard is a favorite and here he plays live with his band at the legendary jazz club Lennie’s on the Turnpike. A couple of other live titles with this band from the same club were released as well on Prestige, and this the second volume. This live performance is quite special as it features master drummer Alan Dawson on the vibes on one tune and tenor player Joe Farrell on drums (he also plays the flute) .Very unusal and very cool. We also have the great George Tucker on double bass. He has a couple of wonderful solos.

I think this a interesting example of Jaki Byard live, where he can really use his ecletic style to great effect. Byard mixed a lot of different styles into his playing. On ”Bass-ment Blues” for example it feels like you just walked into a saloon in the old west. The music is special. Not your average live jazz date. It contains so many different styles and aspects that it’s difficult to write down what I’m experiencing. It’s vintage Jaki Byard, full stop.

The sound of this live recording is ok, but not great. If it had been Van Gelder recording this it probably would have been another experience. No matter, it’s a special band captured live during a brief moment in time, which I find really interesting.

Comment

"Warming Up!" by The Billy Taylor Trio on Riverside RLP 339

Comment

"Warming Up!" by The Billy Taylor Trio on Riverside RLP 339

Dr. Billy Taylor.

I noted from Wikipedia that: ”Billy Taylor was jazz activist and educator, who lectured in colleges, served on panels and travelled worldwide as a jazz ambassador. Critic Leonard Feather once said, "It is almost indisputable that Dr. Billy Taylor is the world's foremost spokesman for jazz." Taylor sat on the Honorary Founders Board of The Jazz Foundation of America, an organisation he founded in 1989, to save the homes and the lives of America's elderly jazz and blues musicians, later including musicians who survived Hurricane Katrina. He was the Robert L. Jones Distinguished Professor of Music at East Carolina University in Greenville, and from 1994 was the artistic director for jazz at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.”

Taylor is cat I haven’t listened to before, which is nuts considering his amazing pedigree in the world of jazz. The well of jazz is a deep one. Will be a life long exploration for me. Very pleased that I came across this lovely title. Not one I have seen a lot before, if ever, from what I can remember. This trio plays some good stuff. The highlight for me and a big reason why I acquired this one is the presence of Henry Grimes. He has been one of my favorite bassists ever since I fell in love with jazz, in that moment back in 2007, when I saw him, Rollins and Joe Harris live from Södra Teatern in Stockholm on TV. I haven’t got many original LP’s though with him on double bass. So I’m very happy to have this beautiful example of his playing on the shelf. Another great example that I have with him is McCoy Tyner’s ”Reaching Fourth”, a piano trio session as well, on Impulse. Superb album.

The music is very enjoyable. Nothing groundbreaking, just great piano trio jazz. The sound is amazing on this original pressing. The double bass really shines through with plenty of backbone and the drums comes across earthy and detailed. Great piano sound as well. Clear and engaging.

I enjoy the leader’s approach and I’m looking to explore more of his work and see what I can find. Grimes plays beautiful with his big, warm, round and steady tone on the bass. Ray Mosca plays the drums and I really enjoy his playing as well. He does some lovely work with the brushes.

Do you have any other Billy Taylor titles you can recommend? Cheers!

Comment

"Boss Guitar" by Wes Montgomery on Riverside RM 459

4 Comments

"Boss Guitar" by Wes Montgomery on Riverside RM 459

A master jazz guitarist at work…

In jazz, guitar is an instrument I haven’t dived into properly. I’ve been enjoying Grant Green, Kenny Burrell, Jim Hall and so on through the years, but haven’t got many albums with a guitarist as a leader. One of the very best jazz guitarists was of course Wes Montgomery and I’m a rookie when it comes to him. Why? Well, I haven’t focused on jazz guitarists a lot and I have for some reason neglected his work. Shame on me. He was brilliant. This album is brilliant. Looking to try and find more of his stuff for sure. He was such a smooth player. Had a wonderful tone on the guitar and he played with so much lyricism and his technique was second to none.

This session features Montgomery together with Mel Rhyne on organ and Jimmy Cobb on drums. Rhyne is a cat who I haven’t heard before. He plays some great stuff on this one. Jimmy Cobb is always great, with his tight playing, pinging away on the ride cymbal in a beautiful way. 

Impossible to pick favorite tunes cause each time you listen to this album you end up with different favorites. Stellar music all the way through.

I love this trio format with only guitar, organ and drums. It creates a sparse vibe and it really highlights Montgomerys mastery. Highly recommended.

Do you have some favorite Montgomery titles you’d like to share?

New titles coming in a steady flow now, stay tuned.

4 Comments

"What´s New" by Sonny Rollins & Co on RCA Victor LPM 2572

2 Comments

"What´s New" by Sonny Rollins & Co on RCA Victor LPM 2572

Sonny does bossa…

This album is so good. Filled with latin percussion and bossa nova flavors. As much as I love Sonny I hadn’t listened to this title until I bought it some months ago. I’m very pleased that I discovered this, albeit late.

Sonny really thrives in this setting and the music is to die for. He really shows his multifaceted talent here and he creates the sense that this is his primary style of jazz. It feels that it’s so natural for him to play this style. He just breezes through these infectious and groovy tunes with playful yet highly sophisticated ease.

The band backing him are Jim Hall on guitar, Bob Cranshaw on double bass, Ben Riley on drums and Denis Charles, Frank Charles, Willie Rodriguez and Candido all on percussion. Top notch band. 

Love the percussion element throughout this album. It provides great texture and really makes the session stand out. As a drummer myself I appreciate that stuff. Feels like being on an island in the Caribbean or on the beach in Copacabana, sipping on a drink.

This copy plays superb. Truly amazing. It’s quite a special thing to play a record from the 50’s or 60’s (like this one) and it plays so lovely.

The weather is starting to get a lot warmer here in Stockholm now, so this album was a perfect choice on this day which is the last day of April, called Valborg here in Sweden, with bonfires being lit all across the country.

2 Comments

Conte Candoli Quartet on Mode Mod-LP 109

4 Comments

Conte Candoli Quartet on Mode Mod-LP 109

West Coast bliss.

Conte Candoli was a West Coast cat that played a mean trumpet. As a true trumpet fan I really enjoy his playing. He was a virtuosic player that perhaps is a bit underrated today.

This title is my first on the Mode label, which was based in California. There are several others that I’m looking for as well, all with front cover paintings by Eva Diana. For example titles by Richie Kamuca and Marty Paich.

This copy sounds absolutely fantastic, like new, which is amazing considering that it was released in 1957. It’s on a smaller label as well which sometimes means the quality can be hit or miss, especially from that era, but this one sounds unbelievable.

The band on this are Candoli on trumpet, Vince Guaraldi on piano, Monty Budwig on double bass and Stan Levey on drums. Lovely group. Very happy to finally have an album that features Guaraldi as well.

Three of the originals on this session was a collaboration between Conte and his brother Pete, also a trumpeter. Favorite pick on this album is probably the Al Cohn-penned “Something for Liza”.

Check this one out if you haven’t already. If you enjoy West Coast jazz from the 50’s then this should dazzle you. Highly recommended.

Now the search for some more Mode titles with these front cover portrait paintings continues.

Happy Friday!

4 Comments

"Ellington Indigos" by Duke Ellington and his Orchestra on Columbia CL 1085

6 Comments

"Ellington Indigos" by Duke Ellington and his Orchestra on Columbia CL 1085

A great title by a jazz legend.

For me it’s interesting to explore the cats that came before modern jazz, to get a deeper sense of where stuff came from. For example, when listening to this lovely album you’ll hear very clearly where Mingus got a lot of his stuff from. I think to fully understand what you are listening to you have to go back to the source and appreciate where it all came from.

Like I mentioned in a previous post, my grandfather on my mothers side was a big Ellington fan, so it’s quite special to discover the music he enjoyed.

This music is outstanding and this copy sounds great. The cats backing Ellington consists largely of unknown names for me at this point, but some of them are very familiar. For example Clark Terry, Paul Gonsalves, Johnny Hodges, Britt Woodman (who Mingus used on some of his sessions) and Sam Woodyard.

The highlights for me on the first side is the wonderfully moody ”Where or When” and also the very moody classic ”Autumn Leaves”, that on this original pressing features vocals on only half of the tune by singer Ozzie Bailey. The violin improvisation here by Roy Nance completes the haunting mood here perfectly.

On the second side we have the beautiful ballad ”Prelude to a Kiss”, composed by Ellington in 1938, covered in fantastic fashion by Archie Shepp on his album ”Fire Music” as well as the second tune ”Willow Weep for Me”.

I recommend this one with all my heart.

6 Comments

"Tate-A-Tate" by Buddy Tate with Clark Terry on Swingville SVLP 2014

3 Comments

"Tate-A-Tate" by Buddy Tate with Clark Terry on Swingville SVLP 2014

Blues infused…

Buddy Tate has been completely unknown to me until I came across this album a couple of months ago. At least from what I can remember. Maybe I’ve seen his name, I don’t know, but I’ve never heard him play. This is the beautiful thing about the approach I have know, to explore new labels and artists, in search for more affordable titles. 

This album boasts a great lineup, with tenorist Tate joined by Clark Terry on trumpet and fluegelhorn, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Larry Gales on double bass and Art Taylor on drums. 

Basie alumni Tate was born in Texas in 1913 and began his career as early as the late 1920’s. He started on the alto but switched to the tenor a bit later. He joined the Count Basie band in 1939 and stayed with him until 1948. After Basie he found success on his own starting in 1953, when his group worked at the Celebrity Club in Harlem from 1953 to 1974. 

Tate plays in a bluesy style and his tone is round and pleasing. This album is very accessible and contains numbers very much infused with the blues. I’ve always loved when the blues is very prominent in jazz. It feels very genuine and connected with the past in so many ways.

The band is very well-rounded and no surprise there, considering the personnel. I would highly recommend this album to anyone who enjoys jazz with plenty of blues aspects and to those who enjoy a good dose of classic tenor playing which is round, warm, lyrical and deeply connected with the blues and the Kansas City style which was Tate’s tradition.

Favorite pick on this album for me is the classic jazz standard ”Take the ”A” Train”, composed by Billy Strayhorn and was the signature tune of the Ellington orchestra.

Happy Friday!

3 Comments

"Gettin' Together" by Paul Gonsalves on Jazzland JLP 36

6 Comments

"Gettin' Together" by Paul Gonsalves on Jazzland JLP 36

Gonsalves had that classic tenor sound.

Ellington stalwart Gonsalves gets together with some great cats here to play some lovely stuff. Wynton Kelly, Nat Adderly, Sam Jones and Jimmy Cobb supports Gonsalves. Brilliant lineup. An intriguing, unsual date for an ’Ellington musician”, according to the liner notes. With the point being that no other Ellington musicians are on hand here, and no tunes associated with the Duke are played, which apparently was against the norm compared to when other Ellington sidemen led groups.

Gonsalves had a round and hearty tone which I love. It’s a quintessential tenor tone for me. On this album he plays wonderful, both the uptempo stuff and he also has a beautiful approach to playing the ballad. This is another example of a cat I haven’t explored before. I’m sure I will be checking out his other stuff as well. I’ve also acquired an Ellington title recently, on which Gonsalves is present, and I’ll be looking to explore the Duke’s catalogue more in depth. It’s a special quest for me, as my grandfather on my mothers side was a big Ellington and Armstrong fan.

Favorite picks on this album are the moody and steamy ”Yesterdays”, the beautiful ballad ”I Surrender Dear”, the bluesy 8 minute ”Low Gravy” and the last tune on Side B, which is the cooker ”Walkin’”.

Are you into Gonsalves? Cheers!

6 Comments

"Cohn on the Saxophone" by Al Cohn on Dawn DLP 1110

4 Comments

"Cohn on the Saxophone" by Al Cohn on Dawn DLP 1110

Great stuff by Al Cohn.

You got to love this cover art. The Lester Young influenced Al Cohn is a cat I’m exploring at the moment. He did some great stuff with Zoot Sims for example which I have been listening to a bit. This album is my first album with him as a leader and my first on the Dawn label. It’s a great one with plenty of stuff to enjoy. There are some lovely ballads, slow and blues-drenched stuff and some medium tempo and up tempo numbers which really hits the spot. It’s all very lyrical. No big suprises, just good jazz. The band featured here is Cohn on the tenor, Frank Rehak on the trombone, Hank Jones on piano, Milt Hinton on the double bass and Osie Johnson on the drums. Great band.

One of my favorite tunes on this album is the classic standard ”Softly As In A Morning Sunrise”. So light and airy with a theme that is just top notch.

A lot of the stuff Cohn released can be found for very reasonable prices. That’s great because it fits in well with my approach to collecting. Meaning trying to find wonderful jazz on original vinyl, in mono, for sane prices. My days of buying original Blue Notes are pretty much over. It’s just not justifiable paying those prices for me anymore. I leave that stuff to the folks with deeper pockets. If I find an original Blue Note for a great price, then fine, but I don’t think that is plausible the way the market has been going in recent times. I’m happy though, that I managed to be very disciplined for so many years, saving up for months just to buy one album. Many of the titles I acquired way back are in the stratosphere now price-wise, and I would never be able to afford them today. But it’s so much fun exploring and to find great stuff on labels I haven’t given much attention to before.

Do you have any favorite Al Cohn titles you’d like to share? Cheers!

4 Comments

"The Tenor Scene" by the Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis / Johnny Griffin Quintet at Minton's Playhouse on Prestige PRLP 7191

2 Comments

"The Tenor Scene" by the Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis / Johnny Griffin Quintet at Minton's Playhouse on Prestige PRLP 7191

Classic stuff by a classic group.

Johnny Griffin and Eddie ”Lockjaw” Davis did several albums together. A few of them live at Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem, where all those legendary after hours jam sessions, featuring Bird, Dizzy, Monk, Clarke etc. took place back in the early 1940s. It was there they experimented and developed modern jazz or bebop. I recently acquired two of those titles. This is one of them, recorded in 1961. 

This is a tenor extravaganza with all the bells and whistles you’d want from a live jazz performance in NYC. Improvisational excellence from a great band, consisting of the two cats on tenor, Junior Mance on piano, Larry Gales on double bass and Ben Riley on drums.

Favorite pick of the album is Dizzy Gillespie’s homage to Woody Herman ”Woody ’n’ You”, written in 1942. It’s smokin’. Another favorite is the Lockjaw original ”Bingo Domingo” which features some lovely double bass playing by Larry Gales. I got to mention the classic ”I’ll Remember April” as well, where Junior Mance delivers an outstanding piano solo.

Johnny Griffin is very familiar to me but Lockjaw’s output I haven’t explored much. I need to dive deeper into his catalogue, cause I dig him a lot. I think there is plenty there to enjoy.

Do you have any favorite Lockjaw titles you would like to share? Cheers!

2 Comments

"Freedom Suite" by Sonny Rollins on Riverside RLP 12-258

4 Comments

"Freedom Suite" by Sonny Rollins on Riverside RLP 12-258

I love the concept of a sax trio.

I love Sonny Rollins, both for his great playing and compositions, but also because he was the one who got me really hooked on jazz. The band he had that hooked me was also a trio; him, Henry Grimes and Joe Harris. Just like on this album, but here it is Oscar Pettiford and Max Roach on double bass and drums. I absolutely love the concept of a sax trio. It’s so naked and exposed, so primitive, in a good way. Rollins’ sax really takes center stage in this format and is really in your face. I love “Way Out West” as well, also a trio format.

This album consists of the brilliant Rollins-penned “The Freedom Suite”, taking up the whole of Side 1 and four other tunes on the second side that are beautiful as well. This is a lovely album, one of his best, that I’ve been after for a long time. Not entierly easy to find with the large blue labels (no INC). Happy to finally be able to file this great title. Have plenty of other Sonny Rollins titles that I’m still looking for, so the search goes on for those.

Any thoughts on this album? Please share. Cheers!

4 Comments

"Long Night" by Frank Strozier on Jazzland  JLP 56

4 Comments

"Long Night" by Frank Strozier on Jazzland JLP 56

Strozier was a great alto player.

Fantastic session by altoist Frank Strozier who is still with us. A cat I haven’t given much attention to before. I’m glad I stumbled upon this album which showcases what a great player and composer he was. I will definitely explore his stuff more in depth.

Never saw this title before, until a couple of weeks ago. Listened a bit on Spotify, got hooked, and jumped on the chance to acquire it. The album has two lineups, a quartet and a sextet. The sextet consists of Strozier on alto, George Coleman on tenor, Pat Patrick on baritone, Chris Anderson on piano, Bill Lee on double bass and Walter Perkins on drums. The quartet has Strozier as the only horn together with the rhythm section.

It’s a beautiful record all the way trough, starting with the bluesy and slow paced Strozier-penned ”Long Night”.  ”How Little We Know” comes next which is a medium-tempo tune with a laid back feel. Then it’s time for a waltz and it’s called ”The Need for Love” and it has that swaying feel that the groove of a waltz provides. Love it. ”The Man That Got Away” closes the A side and it is a lovely slow number with a beautiful solo by Strozier at the end.

Side B begins with the calm and soulful ”Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe” which is relaxing and peaceful. Lovely brush work by Perkins. Then we get into the part of the album which I love the most, with three lovely tunes, all penned by Strozier. ”The Crystal Ball” comes first, on which both Strozier and Patrick plays flute. The tune has a slight latin flavor and a wonderful ambiance that is quite unique. Love the incorporation of the two flutes. A favorite. Then we’re off into the smokin’ up-tempo ”Pacemaker”, which features Strozier in full flow with an impressive solo. The kick drum is very present and the double bass has a thick and full sound which makes the tune really take off. Then we have another up-tempo tune which is called ”Just Think It Over” which has a memorable theme to start with and is followed by great horn solos by all to close the album.

This title is already a firm favorite and is highly recommended.

4 Comments

"Soulville" by The Ben Webster Quintet on Verve MG V-8274

8 Comments

"Soulville" by The Ben Webster Quintet on Verve MG V-8274

Smoky and syrupy…

If you’re in the mood for some smoky, breathy and soulful tenor saxophone then look no further than Ben Webster’s “Soulville”, which is a lovely album i’ve been after for quite some time. It is very difficult to find a clean original, both the vinyl and jacket are often not in great shape. The couple of copies I’ve listened to before had plenty of noise, but this copy that I just acquired plays so much better than those. I guess this title was played to death by folks back in the day. The jacket has some issues but it’s no biggie, I think it presents itself ok. The vinyl plays fine, not perfect though, but I’m very happy with this copy and I think it sounds great.

I’m after more of Ben Webster’s stuff, so I will keep my eyes peeled if anything comes along. He did a few more on Verve for example. He was a great player with such a wonderful, syrupy tone. I guess my favorite tune on this album is “Lover Come Back to Me”. But the whole album is stellar. Highly recommended.

This is another example of finding great jazz on original vinyl for a reasonable price.

Do you have a favorite Ben Webster album you would like to share? Cheers!

8 Comments