Mose Allison
Mose Allison Sings
Oliver Nelson
Screamin' The Blues
Thelonious
Monk/Sonny Rollins
Thelonious Monk/Sonny Rollins
Richard "Groove"
Holmes
Soul Message
Prestige
Prestige's
latest release of Rudy van Gelder remasters are all essentials for any
jazz collector. This 4 discs represent completely different perspectives
of the wonders of jazz.
Mose Allison finds himself in a trio setting on these tunes recorded between
57 and 59. Except for the last 3 instrumentals, this record features the
hep-to-be-hip delivery of the consummate jazz story teller. "The
Seventh Son" snaps along with Allison's classic laid back delivery,
akin to a Lester Young solo. He handles Ellingtonia just as well with
a secretive "Do Nothin' Til You Hear From Me." Simple, direct
and thoroughly cool, this release makes a mockery of all the pale white
dukes trying to emulate the master.
Oliver Nelson is usually only though of as making "Blues and the
Abstract Truth" and then falling off the jazz planet to the TV studios.
Well, you are in for a treat from this baby, because "Screamin"
features two of the musicians on that 61 release, Dolphy and Haynes, and
the trumpet work by Richard Williams is as Hubbardly as you could hope
for. Recorded a year before "Blues" this disc has a similar
plethora of wonderous ideas, not the least of which is the double alto
lead of Nelson and Dolphy on the incendiary "Alto-Itis". Songs
like "The Drive" and "The Meeting" feature well arranged
melodies, and wondrous soloing by Dolphy on alto and bass clarinet. Nelson's
tenor, particularly on the title piece, is deep and resonant. Lock this
gem up and hide it!
Monk and Rollins were simply made for each other. The pianists work on
Prestige is usually overlooked, because it was sandwiched between his
Blue Note and Riverside recordings. Don't let that detract you from this
gem: the band, with Julius Watkins on French horn is gloriously cooking
on the likes of "Friday the 13th." Drummer art Blakey was always
at his best with Monk, and he fits like peanut butter with jelly on the
trio pieces "Work" and "Nutty". Rollins' tone was
at it's most robust, whirling "The Way You Look Tonight" like
a discus in the Olympics. Celebratory and idiosyncratic, this is modern
jazz at its best.
Meanwhile, organist Richard "Groove" Holmes puts some extra
sauce on the ribs and makes music that is finger lickin' good. Jimmie
Smith's drums and Gene Edwards' guitar are all that is needed to accompany
the Groovster on this set of high triglyceride fun. The double time take
of "Misty" became a big hit for Holmes, and it still cooks well
after 41 years in the oven. Horace Silver's "Song For My Father"
is given a fun filled workout, and the sole ballad, "Things We Did
Last Summer" is heart wrenchingly beautiful. Add the two infectious
originals, and you've got the makings of music you want while driving
along the highway. This will definitely clean out your cobwebs!
- George W. Harris
Track Listing Mose Allison Sings: The Seventh Son; Eyesight to the Blind;
Do Nothin’ Till You Hear from Me; Lost Mind; I’ve Got a Right
to Cry; Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand; Parchman Farm; If You Live; Don’t
Get Around Much Anymore; One Room Country Shack; I Hadn’t Anyone
Till You; Young Man’s Blues; That’s Alright; Blueberry Hill;
Trouble in Mind; Creek Bank.
Personnel Mose Allison Sings: Mose Allison: vocals, piano, trumpet; Addison
Farmer, Taylor La Fargue: bass; Frank Isola, Ronnie Free, Nick Stabulas:
drums.
Track Listing Screamin' The Blues: Scrreamin' The Blues; March On, March
On; The Drive; The Meetin'; Three Seconds; Alto-itis.
Personnel
Screamin' The Blues: Oliver Nelson: tenor and alto saxophones; Richard
Williams: trumpet; Eric Dolphy: alto saxophone, bass clarinet; Richard
Wyands: piano; George Duvivier: bass; Roy Haynes: drums.
Track Listing Thelonious Monk/Sonny Rollins: The Way You Look Tonight;
I Want To Be Happy; Work; Nutty; Friday The 13th.
Personnel
Thelonious Monk/Sonny Rollins: Sonny Rollins: tenor saxophone; Thelonious
Monk: piano; Percy Heath: bass; Art Blakey, Art Taylor, Willie Jones:
drums.
Track Listing Soul Message: Groove's Groove; Daahoud; Misty; Song For
My Father; The Things We Did Last Summer; Soul Message.
Personnel Soul Message: Richard “Groove” Holmes: Organ; Gene Edwards: guitar; Jimmie Smith: drums.