No One Asked My Opinion, But….

BEST RHYTHM SECTIONS….
By George W. Harris

We’re not talking about jazz trios, like Bill Evans’, or quartets in their own rights, but we’re referring to those members of the band that keep the music going forward, be it the standard piano/bass/drum, or plus the guitarist, this is the engine that keeps the jazz machine working. Any recording with these teammates is worth acquiring…

1) Jo Jones/Freddie Greene/Walter Page/Count Basie-known as the “All American Rhythm Section,” they graced scores of songs for Count Basie’s band in the 30s and 40s
2) Red Garland/Paul Chambers/Philly Joe Jones-on a ton of Blue Note and Fantasy recordings of the 50s, best known with Miles Davis’ classic first quintet with Coltrane.
3) Ron Carter/Herbie Hancock/Tony Williams-the essence of Miles Davis’ SECOND classic quintet of the 60s, also on scores of Blue Note recordings, most notably Maiden Voyage.
4) Oscar Peterson/Herb Ellis/Ray Brown/Ed Thigpen-Sometimes drummer Thigpen was there, sometimes not, but this core was the house band for just about everything on Verve Records in the 50s, including stuff by Getz, Diz, O’Day, Webster…..
5) McCoy Tyner/Reggie Workman/Elvin Jones-The team behind Coltrane’s classic quartet, but a formidable team in their own right. Bewildering energy and creativity.
6) Tom Ranier/Tom Warrington/Joe La Barbera-an LA team that plays all the time here, backing up guys Eddie Eddie Daniels
7) Jimmy Cobb/Paul Chambers/Wynton Kelly-another Davis anchor team that graced a ton of essential hard bop stuff in the early 60s. Pulsating rhythm at it’s best.
8) Art Blakey/Jymie Merritt/Bobby Timmons-the quintessential soul and hard bop group, with a gospel back beat that was second to none.
9) Jimmy Rowles/Dave Tough/Chubby Jackson- Woody Herman’s Herd perfected big band bebop while going broke at the same time. So, what else is new?
10) Hal Galper/Steve Gilmore/Bill Goodwin-best known in Phil Woods’ long lasting quintet, but they made modern post bop sound simple and free.
11) Christian Jacob/Trey Henry(or Kevin Axt)/Ray Brinker-this LA based group has been touring with Tierney Sutton for years, but can also be the ultimate backup band for visiting horn players and singers.
12) Jim McNeely/George Mraz/Victor Lewis (or Kenny Barron/Rufus Reid/Victor Lewis)-Stan Getz had two rhythm teams for the last decade of his life, and the chose is between a Mercedes and BMW. How do you want to cruise?