Friday, September 8, 2017

Julian Priester - Spiritsville (1960)

Spiritsville is the second album led by American jazz trombonist Julian Priester which was recorded in 1960 for Riverside's subsidiary Jazzland label.

Smokin' Hard Bop
This hard bop set from 1960 didn't do too much for me at first. Largely, I think, because I have been listening to a lot of this stuff lately. Then something happened. I listened to this record with the headphones on and I'll be damned if I didn't experience it in a whole new way. Recorded in New York City in July 1960, Spiritsville features a cast of characters that I have not heard a lot from (except for the noteworthy piano player...). Priester was a trombone player. In fact, he's on Coltrane's Impulse debut, Africe Brass. In the manner of Curtis Fuller he does some great work on this record as a lead. Between those two I've come to enjoy that instrument far more than I ever have. Of the records McCoy Tyner played on leading up to this one, none foreshadowed exactly where his tone and style were going as much as this one. Dig his solo work on 'Blue Stride' and 'Excursion'. You'll hear it. ~ by Lawrence Peryeron, Amazon.com.

Jazzland Records, JLP 25, 1960
Recorded 12th July, 1960 in New York City

Musicians:
Julian Priester - Trombone
Walter Benton - Tenor Saxophone (#A1,A2,A4-B3)
Charles Davis - Baritone Saxophone (#A1,A2,A4-B3)
McCoy Tyner - Piano
Sam Jones - Bass
Art Taylor - Drums

Tracks:
A1. Chi-Chi {Charlie Parker} (4:49)
A2. Blue Stride {Julian Priester} (5:58)
A3. It Might As Well Be Spring {Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II} (5:54)
A4. Excursion {Walter Benton} (5:48)
B1. Spiritsville {Julian Priester} (7:26)
B2. My Romance {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (5:57)
B3. Donna's Waltz {Julian Priester} (5:37)

Total Time: 41:29

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