Cy Touff Quintet - Touff Assignment (1958) [vinyl]

Cy Touff played the bass trumpet as a lead instrument in several small jazz ensembles, though this LP, made for Argo in 1958, seems to be his final recording as a leader. His instrument sounds much like Sandy Mosse's trombone, so it is somewhat easy to confuse their respective solos, unless one is paying close attention. The strong rhythm section includes pianist Eddie Higgins, bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Marty Clausen. The music is a mix of cool originals by Al Cohn ("Soulsville") and Ernie Wilkins ("Tough Touff"), along with classic jazz compositions ("Keepin' Out of Mischief Now" and "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart") plus swinging takes of standards such as "How Long Has This Been Going On" and "The Lamp Is Low." Touff continued to record on occasion as a sideman following this date. The only disappointing part of this release is the abbreviated total time of less than 28 minutes. Long out of print, the original issue will likely only be found in auction lists. ~ by Ken Dryden, AMG.

Argo Records, LP 641, 1959

Recorded 28^th-29^th August, 1958 in Chicago, Illinois

Musicians:

Cy Touff - Bass Trumpet

Sandy Mosse - Saxophone

Ed Higgins - Piano

Bob Cranshaw - Bass

Marty Clausen - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Soulsville {Al Cohn} (3:11)

A2. Cyril's Dream {Al Cohn} (3:07)

A3. How Long Has This Been Going On {George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin} (3:33)

A4. Kissin' Cousins {Ernie Wilkins} (3:01)

B1. Keeping Out Of Mischief Now {Andy Razaf, Fats Waller} (3:48)

B2. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart {Ellington, Mills, Nemo, Redmond} (3:35)

B3. Lamp Is Low {Peter DeRose, Bert Shefter} (2:38)

B4. Tough Touff {Ernie Wilkins} (5:27)

Credits:

Producer - Dave Usher

Recording Engineer - Malcolm Chisholm

Photography [Cover] - Don Bronstein

Liner Notes - Ralph J. Gleason

Notes:

Stereo Recording made on an Ampex-3005