A repost by request.An exciting Bee Hive contribution from Wid - this has been on a private site in flac but here is a different LP rip for The Crypt that is the first public lossless offering.
Nick Brignola Sextet featuring Pepper Adams - Baritone Madness
Bee Hive Records, 1977
01 - Donna Lee 9:40
02 - Billie's Bounce 11:21
03 - Marmeduke 11:36
04 - Body And Soul 7:07
05 - Alone Together 7:05
Nick Brignola - Baritone Sax
Pepper Adams - Baritone Sax
Ted Curson - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Derek Smith - Piano
Dave Holland - Acoustic Bass
Roy Haynes - Drums
Recorded December 22, 1977 at Blue Rock Studio, New York City.
This album lives up to its title. Nick Brignola is matched up with fellow baritone great Pepper Adams in a sextet also including trumpeter Ted Curson, pianist Derek Smith, bassist Dave Holland and drummer Roy Haynes. The personnel differs throughout the program, with the full group being heard on "Billie's Bounce" and "Marmaduke," Curson sitting out on "Donna Lee," "Body and Soul" being a feature for Brignola, and "Alone Together" showcasing the rhythm section. It is obvious from the song titles that this is very much a bebop jam session date, and quite a few sparks do fly.
(sic) Clean, open, 'live' sound. Highly detailed instruments with 'air' and presence performing in an intimate environment. Very natural sounding. Excellent Bass, Brass with plenty of 'bite' and an open, airy treble. A 3-D soundstage with strong imaging. Wid
KC note: The very first album issued on Bee Hive.
Many thanks, Wid & KC! This is a wonderful post. Not only is this the very first Bee Hive, but the sound is excellent too! I sometimes have objections in one way or other regarding the sound, but not this time. Fine scans too.
ReplyDeleteAs for the music, one can't go wrong featuring a number of Charlie Parker tunes. According to the liner notes, Pepper Adams's recollection was that this was the first recording of "Marmaduke" since Bird's original 1948 waxing. A look in Lord reveals that this is not literally true, since it had been recorded a handful of times afterwards, but it is true that it has been rarely recorded compared to many other Bird tunes.
Bee Hive does not have a voluminous catalogue, but what is there is very good. Since none of its albums have appeared on CD, it is of particular value when they are made available in blogland, and especially in as high a quality as here. I will gradually work my way through the other Bee Hive offerings here at the Crypt.
One Bee Hive LP that I haven't seen here or elsewhere and which also is interesting from a Brignola viewpoint is one called "The Bee Hive Session - Unissued Tunes, Vol. One" (although there never was a volume two). It consists of outtakes from various Bee Hive sessions. Half of the tracks are with Brignola, including one with the same group as on "Baritone Madness". So if someone has this album, it would be great to see it posted here!
An image of the cover can be seen here:
http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/69b6744255a22d730657c8985979cfa2/3427622.jpg
Since I also wrote about the Galaxy label in a recent post, it is interesting to note that both Galaxy and Bee Hive were active in the same years (1977-1984)!
As for Brignola's discography, "Baritone Madness" was actually not the first album under his own name. Already ten years earlier, in 1967, he had recorded the album "This Is It!", which was released on a label called Priam, which allegedly was his own. It is probably impossibly rare, but if someone has it...
Could this be re-upped?
ReplyDeleteRay Pratt
http://www.embedupload.com/?d=9ARXOHGRFS
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for re-upping this, KC!
ReplyDeleteThe BeeHive label is still unissued on CD and I intend to repost my LP rips here.
ooh, this looks like double fun. thanks Wid (and KC). can't wait to hear these guys blow together
ReplyDeleteThanks for this!
ReplyDelete