Clark Terry - Out On A Limb with Clark Terry (1957)

‘Out on a Limb with Clark Terry’ is an album by American jazz trumpeter Clark Terry featuring tracks recorded in 1957 and released on the Argo label. For this album Clark Terry assembled a sensational sextet whereby he showcased five of his own tunes and four classic well-known jazz standards. It was a time when the majority of jazz compositions were limited to durations of under three minutes, mainly in line with radio air play. Regardless, Clark and his team still have opportunities to set some soloing in motion, ideally listeners would have to wait another decade to truly experience the mastery of Clark Terry’s musical talents; a priceless early example of his evolving skills. 

Argo Records, LP-620, 1957
Recorded probably 26th July, 1957 at Sheldon Recording Studios, Chicago Illinois 

Musicians:
Clark Terry - Trumpet
Mike Simpson - Tenor & Baritone Saxes, Flute, Clarinet
Willie Jones - Piano
Remo Biondi - Guitar
Jimmy Woode - Bass
Sam Woodyard - Drums 

Tracks:
A1. Caravan {Juan Tizol, Duke Ellington} (2:01)
A2. Candy {Mack David, Alex Kramer, Joan Whitney} (2:22)
A3. Clarke's Expedition {Mike Simpson, Clark Terry} (2:30)
A4. Trumpet Mouthpiece Blues {Clark Terry} (4:06)
B1. Phlanges {Clark Terry, Louie Bellson} (3:03)
B2. Blues For Daddy O's Jazz Patio Blues {Clark Terry} (4:33)
B3. Basin Street {Spencer Williams} (2:45)
B4. Daylite Express {Clark Terry} (2:17)
B5. Taking A Chance On Love {Vernon Duke, Ted Fetter, John La Touche} (2:19) 

Total Time: 25:56 

Credits:
Supervisor, Liner Notes - Holmes "Daddy-O" Daylie
Engineer - Jack Weiner
Design - Le Roy Winbush
Design Production - Winbush Associates
Photography - Lacey Crawford, Ronald Howard

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

Al Grey - Boss Bone (1964) [vinyl]

Soul jazz trombone session, recorded in Chicago, with players like John Young on piano, Leo Blevins on guitar, and Ike Isaacs on bass. The groove is tight and hard, and Grey wrote a lot of catchy originals for the session. Titles include "Tacos & Grits", "Salty Mama", "The Give Off", and "Grey Being Blue". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

This well-loved LP truly demonstrates that Al Grey at the time of recording was the ‘Boss Bone’. He has such a sweet tone that just literally sings along with the music. In addition, Al showcases his writing ability; six out of the nine compositions are his creation, the other three are reliable jazz standards which he plays with great finesse. This is all achievable by the wondrously harmonic playing of the rest of the group. Both the pianist and guitarist in particular blend perfectly with Al’s bone with some marvelous soloing. Considering the condition of the vinyl, with some tweaking the sound comes off well, Enjoy!

Argo Records, LP-731, 1964

Recorded 17^th December, 1963 at Ter Mar Studios, Chicago, Illinois

Musicians:

Al Grey - Trombone

John Young - Piano

Leo Blevins - Guitar

Ike Isaacs - Bass

Phil Thomas - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Smile {John Turner, Geoffrey Parsons, Charlie Chaplin} (2:38)

A2. Terrible Cap {Al Grey} (3:01)

A3. Mona Lisa {Jay Livingston, Ray Evans} (3:27)

A4. Tacos And Grits {Al Grey} (3:18)

A5. Can't You Feel It {Al Grey} (3:59)

B1. Salty Mama {Al Grey} (3:24)

B2. The Give Off {Al Grey} (4:06)

B3. Day In Day Out {Robe Bloom, Johnny Mercer} (5:13)

B4. Grey Being Blue {Al Grey} (3:45)

Credits:

Supervision - Esmond Edwards

Engineer - Ron Malo

Cover Photo - Don Bronstein

Liner Notes - Daddy-O Daylie

Budd Johnson with Joe Newman - Off The Wall (1964) [vinyl>flac]

A great little album from tenor legend Budd Johnson - and a record that nicely updates his sound by pairing him with a hip 60s-styled group! The album's got a jaunty feel that's like the best soul jazz sessions on Impulse at the time - taking Budd's tenor and placing it next to trumpet by Joe Newman, piano by Albert Dailey, bass from Richard Davis, and drums by Grady Tate. Upbeat tracks bounce along in a swinging take on mainstream soul jazz - and the mellower cuts feature some really wonderful blowing from Budd - done with a raspy tone that's got a nice earthy quality! Includes the jazz dancer "Off The Wall", the samba-styled "Strange Music", a snapping take on "Baubles Bangles & Beads", and the syncopated groover "Playin' My Hunch". ~ The Jazz Cooperative

Personally, alongside Ya! Ya! this one of my favourite Budd LPs. Having Joe Newman on board really opens up the music. Budd alone plays beautifully right-throughout; Newman’s solos are sharp and exhilarating. As for Albert Dailey his piano work it is par excellence. Not to overlook the rhythm men, some haunting bass lines and unswerving drumming, all add to this album’s appeal. One complaint is that it’s not long enough, but always pure pleasure with additional spins, enjoy you’ll be jumping 'Off The Wall".

Argo Records, LPS-748, 1965

Recorded 3^rd December, 1964 At RCA Recording Studios, New York City

Musicians:

Budd Johnson - Tenor Saxophone

Joe Newman - Trumpet

Al Dailey, Jr. - Piano

Richard Davis - Bass (#A1,A2,B3,B4)

George Duvivier - Bass (#A3,B1,B2)

Grady Tate - Drums

Tracks:

1. Off The Wall {Budd Johnson} (4:55)

2. The Folks Who Live On The Hill {Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II} (5:09)

3. Love Is The Sweetest Thing {Ray Noble} (7:14)

4. Strange Music {Robert Wright, George Forrest} (3:47)

5. Baubles, Bangles, And Beads {George Forrest, Robert Wright} (5:50)

6. Ill Wind {Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler} (4:51)

7. Playin' My Hunch {Budd Johnson} (4:58)

Credits:

Producer, Cover Photo - Esmond Edwards

Engineer - Ray Hall

Cover Design - Don Bronstein

Liner Notes - Joe Segal

Al Grey - Basic Grey

Mwha...MMMwhaaaaaaaa.

That one of a kind, distinct sound was Al Grey's calling card. Infact, he literally wrote the book on it. Grey's career is the stuff of jazz legend, setting the bar for all who follow. He did it all...composer, arranger, player, performer, recording artist, author, educator and all around purveyor of all things jazz.

Al Grey played for years with Count Basie, but luckily for us, set out to lay down his own path. For the most part, he brought his Basie bandmates along forming firstly the Al Grey/Billy Mitchell sextet, and The Basie Wing. During the 60's he recorded several wonderful sides for Argo/Cadet, the jazz arm of Chess Records.


Basic Grey is a collection from his Argo sessions. More specifically, it's actually 3 full length sides released on two LPs. This album was released on the Chess Jazz Masters Series, which took a close look at their jazz catalogue, re-issuing some greats. Unlike many of the two-fers that Prestige or Riverside released, Chess decided to give the listeners the full experience of each album, even keeping the track listings as they originally appeared. We are treated to Snap Your Fingers, The Al Grey/Billy Mitchell Sextet and The Last Of The Big Plungers. "Sextet" is actually a live album, recorded in NYC.

I will keep this review limited to generalizations. Clearly from the list of sidemen, this collection is a monster. Grey favours larger groups as far as the "small" group goes, usually between 6 - 9 players. The front line is generally weighed down with brass and as a result is real, real heavy. Dynamically the impact is just like a big band...fantastic.


All manner of tunes are called upon, but the consistent theme with Al Grey is the blues. It's best fit to his style, and he is relentless during a full on blues jam.


This double set is in NM condition. The fidelity of these recordings is outstanding making these transfers a real joy. Of course, they were ripped at 24/44.1 wav and dithered to 16/44.1 FLAC. The tracks from the live set are best enjoyed with no dead space or cross fade between. I have included all images from the original gatefold, and the notes will help to guide anyone wishing to re-tag these into single sides. And here we go again...Crypt style!! Enjoy!!

Snap Your Fingers:
Al Grey (tb); Billy Mitchell (ts); Dave Burns (tp); Bobby Hutcherson (vibes); Floyd Morris (p); Herman Wright (b); Ed Williams (d) also Al Grey (tb); Billy Mitchell (ts); Donald Byrd (tp); Herbie Hancock (p); Bobby Hutcherson(vibes); Herman Wright (b); Ed Williams (d)

The Last Of The Big Plungers: Al Grey (tb); Bennie Powell (tb); Joe Newman (tp); Billy Mitchell (ts); Charlie Fowlkes (bs); Floyd Morris (p); Ed Jones (b); Sonny Payne (d)

The Al Grey/Billy Micthell Sextet: Al Grey (tb); Billy Mitchell (ts); Henry Boozier (tp); Gene Kee (p); Art Davis (b); Jule Curtis (d); Ray Barretto (c)