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

 

Cy Touff throughout his career played the bass trumpet as a lead instrument in several small jazz ensembles, but unfortunately his discography as a leader is quite sparce. This LP, released on Argo records in 1958, seems to be his final recording as a leader. For this album he is joined by Sandy Mosse on tenor saxophone, and backed by a strong rhythm section that includes pianist Eddie Higgins, bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Marty Clausen. The compositions are a mixture of cool jazz originals by Al Cohn "Soulsville" & Cyril's Dream” and by Ernie Wilkins "Kissin' Cousins" & "Tough Touff". The remainder of the tunes performed are essentially well-known jazz standards including "Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now" and "I Let A Song Go Out of My Heart", plus swinging renderings of "How Long Has This Been Going On" and "The Lamp Is Low." Touff’s proficiency and skill on the bass trumpet is something that not many players afterwards have matched. Overall, the album is smooth from start to finish, one quibble is that it is too short. This rip is taken from the stereo version of the original Argo vinyl, Enjoy! 

Argo Records, LP 641-S, 1958
Recorded 28^th-29^th August, 1958 in Chicago, Illinois 

Musicians:
Cy Touff - Bass Trumpet
Sandy Mosse - Tenor Saxophone
Ed Higgins - Piano
Bob Cranshaw - Bass
Marty Clausen - Drums 

Tracks:
A1. Soulsville {Al Cohn} (3:17)
A2. Cyril's Dream {Al Cohn} (3:12)
A3. How Long Has This Been Going On {George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin} (3:39)
A4. Kissin' Cousins {Ernie Wilkins} (3:06)
B1. Keeping Out Of Mischief Now {Andy Razaf, Fats Waller} (3:53)
B2. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart {Ellington, Mills, Nemo, Redmond} (3:42)
B3. Lamp Is Low {Maurice Ravel, Peter DeRose, Bert Shefter} (2:42)
B4. Tough Touff {Ernie Wilkins} (5:34) 

Total Time: 29:05 

Credits:
Producer - Dave Usher
Recording Engineer - Malcolm Chisholm
Photography [Cover] - Don Bronstein
Mastering Engineer - Douglas Brand
Liner Notes - Ralph J. Gleason