Oscar Peterson + Harry “Sweets” Edison + Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson (1986) [vinyl>flac]

All Star Mainstream Jazz

This is a top notch, grade A, disc of Mainstream Swing Jazz. Not complicated. Straight ahead in your face. Shades of Duke Ellington (represented here with "Satin Doll"). State the theme, improvise, state the theme. Jazz standards, up-tempo, and slow. The Oscar Peterson Trio (with Dave Young and Martin Drew), and 2 of the greatest players that ever were; Harry "Sweets" Edison and Joe Pass. Surprisingly, the player who absolutely carries this session is Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson on alto. His solos make this disc. Just terrific playing. "Cleanhead" was a blues player and singer, but listen to him in this Jazz context. As great as everyone is, he stands out. The disc just rolls along from Coleman Hawkins' "Stuffy" at the start to "Satin Doll" at the end, with the theme inverted to make a very different reading. No bebop here, straight ahead from the swing era played by small ensemble. If you are a Jazz person you really will enjoy this. If you are a fan of improvised music you really will enjoy this. If you are new to Jazz, this is a great education of how they used to play it. Old time Jazz played by great players. Anyone who buys this disc will be very surprised. This is one of these discs that is undiscovered. Get this while you can. ~ by Steven Meyerson, Amazon, 2001

The "Gray Lions" Don't Disappoint

Many of the recordings featuring aging jazz musicians are disappointing because the players are naturally facing diminished capacity. But not this one. Recorded in 1986 when most of the headliners here - Edison, Peterson, Vinson and Joe Pass on guitar (who for some reason fails share the top billing) - were in their 60's or 70's, this Pablo (ie. Norman Granz) session is tight, well-conceived and swings with abandon. Everyone sounds great, no stragglers. It's just amazing. There are two medium tempo pieces (Stuffy and Satin Doll), two barn burners (This One's for Jaws and Broadway), two ballads (Everything Happens to Me and What's New) and a slow blues (Slooow Drag). Nice mix. If you like small group swing and blues executed by some of the legends of the swing era, this one's highly recommended. ~ by William Fauston, Amazon, 2000

Source: Top Amazon Customer Reviews

Pablo Records, 2310-927, 1987

Recorded 12^th November, 1986 At Ocean Way Studio, Hollywood, California

Personnel:

Oscar Peterson - Piano

Harry "Sweets" Edison - Trumpet

Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson - Alto Saxophone

Joe Pass - Guitar

Dave Young - Bass

Martin Drew - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Stuffy {Coleman Hawkins} (9:10)

A2. This One's For Jaws {Miles Davis, Harry "Sweets" Edison} (4:52)

A3. Everything Happens To Me {Tom Adair, Matt Dennis} (4:35)

A4. Broadway {Billy Bird, Ray Henderson, Teddy McRae, Henri Woode} (5:12)

B1. Slooow Drag {Harry "Sweets" Edison, Joe Pass, Oscar Peterson, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson} (10:33)

B2. What's New? {Johnny Burke, Bob Haggart} (4:26)

B3. Satin Doll {Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Billy Strayhorn} (7:30)

Credits:

Producer, Artwork, Design, Layout Design - Norman Granz

Recording Engineer - Allen Sides

Mastering Engineer - George Horn (Fantasy Studios, Berkeley)

Artwork, Design, Layout Design - Sheldon Marks

Photography - Phil Stern