Rex Stewart - Rendezvous With Rex

This interesting and well-rounded LP has two separate sessions originally cut for the Felsted label. Cornetist Rex Stewart is fiery on the first date, jamming on a trio of his worthy but obscure originals (when was the last time anyone played "Tillie's Twist" or "Tell Me More?") with trombonist George Stevenson, Haywood Henry (on clarinet and baritone), tenorman George Kelly, either Willie "The Lion" Smith or Dick Cary on piano, bassist Leonard Gaskin and drummer Arthur Trappier; Stewart takes a pleasant vocal on "My Kind of Gal." The three numbers from the later date have moody arrangements by Cary (who doubles on trumpet) and find Stewart in a septet with Hilton Jefferson (heard on clarinet and alto), clarinetist Garvin Bushell (whose bassoon work makes the date most memorable), guitarist Everett Barksdale, bassist Joe Benjamin and drummer Mickey Sheen. Superior music that will hopefully resurface on CD someday. - Scott Yanow/ AMG

Felsted FAJ 7001
1958

A1   Tillie's Twist
A2   Pretty Ditty
A3   Tell Me More
B1   Danzon D'amor
B2   My Kind Of Gal
B3   Blue Echo

Alto Saxophone – Hilton Jefferson (tracks: A2, B1, B3)
Baritone Saxophone – Haywood Henry (tracks: A1, A3, B2)
Bass – Joe Benjamin (tracks: A2, B1, B3), Leonard Gaskin (tracks: A1, A3, B2)
Bassoon – Garvin Bushell (tracks: A2, B1, B3)
Clarinet – Garvin Bushell (tracks: A2, B1, B3), Haywood Henry (tracks: A1, A3, B2), Hilton Jefferson (tracks: A2, B1, B3)
Cornet – Rex Stewart
Drums – Arthur Trappier (tracks: A1, A3, B2), Mickey Sheen (tracks: A2, B1, B3)
Guitar – Everett Barksdale (tracks: A2, B1, B3)
Piano – Dick Cary (tracks: A2, B1, B2, B3), Willie "The Lion" Smith (tracks: A1, A3)
Tenor Saxophone – George Kelly (tracks: A1, A3, B2)
Trombone – George Stevenson (tracks: A1, A3, B2)
Trumpet – Dick Cary (tracks: A2, B1, B3)
Vocals – Rex Stewart (tracks: B2)