John Coltrane - Black Pearls (1958)

As is often the case with an artist as prolific as John Coltrane, not every release can be considered as essential. Black Pearls seems a bit ambiguous when placed in a more historical context. It was only three days later that Coltrane participated not as a leader, but rather a member, of the Miles Davis Sextet that recorded "Stella By Starlight" and "On Green Dolphin Street." There is an obvious disparity between these three mostly improvised and lengthy jams and the Davis session. This is in no way to insinuate that Coltrane's performance is anything less than par. Black Pearls indeed captures Coltrane at the height of perfecting the intense volley that would garner the name "sheets of sound." Featuring Donald Byrd (trumpet) and the Red Garland Trio - Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), and Art Taylor (drums) - this is the same quintet that had mightily contributed to Lush Life and The Believers, as well as The Last Trane. This session would be their last together. The title track is a mid-tempo bop number that quite frankly fails to make a great melodic impact. It's not until Coltrane's indomitable solo that a direction is found and, for a short while, remains focused. Once the reins are passed to Byrd, Garland, Chambers, and to a lesser extent Taylor, the song meanders through some fairly vapid changes. Fortunately, the soloing from Byrd is more direct and is able to build and support Coltrane's equally impressive display. The difference is immeasurable as no holds are barred from Garland or Taylor - who is arguably at his prime. All told, this performance is well worth the price of admission. At 18-plus minutes, "Sweet Sapphire Blues" (penned by Prestige Records owner Robert Weinstock) is the longest track on Black Pearls. It is in essence a 12-bar blues jam. Coltrane's double- and triple-time solo is primal within this setting. The overemphatic backbeat allows for more group interaction, yielding a full and well-rounded union among the musicians that was sadly absent from the opening track. ~ by Lindsay Planer, AMG.

Prestige Records, PR 7316, 1964

JVC Records, JVCXR-0017-2, 1989

Recorded 23^rd May, 1958 in Hackensack, New Jersey

Musicians:

John Coltrane - Tenor Saxophone

Donald Byrd - Trumpet

Red Garland - Piano

Paul Chambers - Bass

Arthur Taylor - Drums

Tracks:

1. Black Pearls {Unknown} (13:14)

2. Lover Come Back To Me {Sigmund Romberg, Oscar Hammerstein II} (7:28)

3. Sweet Sapphire Blues {Robert Weinstock} (18:14)

Total Time: 38:57

Credits:

Supervision - Bob Weinstock

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Remastering - Phil De Lancie, 1989 (Fantasy Studios, Berkeley)

Design - Don Schlitten

Photo - Joe Alper

Gene Ammons - Velvet Soul (1960,61,62)

Classic mellow Jug - from a time when Prestige discovered that Gene Ammons would sell equally well to the mellow jazz crowd as to the jukebox jumpers. Most of the cuts feature Gene with a deep soulful tone that could qualify as "velvet",  but which still has enough of a rough edge to remain soulful. One track is played by a larger group, and the rest are with small combos that either feature organ or piano. Tracks include "Salome's Tune", "Velvet Soul", "Stranger In Town", and "Light N Up". © 1996-2013, Dusty Groove, Inc.

No Matter in what context we hear Gene Ammons, his characteristic directness and passion can easily be heard. As this set closes we can feel Ammons' concern with all that he plays and the passion with which he invests his music. Ammons has had his outing and he has, once again proven himself worthy of our attention. ~ Extracts from Liner Notes by Michael Gold (Feb. 1964).

Prestige Records, PRST 7320, 1964

Recorded 17^th June, 1960 (#A1,A2); 13^th June, 1961 (#B2);

& 5^th September, 1962 (#A3,B1,B3)

At Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:
Gene Ammons - Tenor Saxophone
Frank Wess - Tenor Saxophone (#A1,A2)

Hobart Dotson, Clark Terry - Trumpet (#B2)

Oliver Nelson - Alto Saxophone (#B2)

George Barrow, Red Holloway - Tenor Saxophone (#B2)

Bob Ashton - Baritone Saxophone (#B2)

Richard Wyands - Piano (#B2)

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Organ (#A1,A2)

Mal Waldron - Piano (#A3,B1,B3)

Doug Watkins - Bass (#A1,A2)

Wendell Marshall - Bass (#A3-B3)

Arthur Taylor - Drums (#A1,A2)

Ed Thigpen - Drums (#A3,B1,B3)

Bill English - Drums (#B2)

Tracks:

A1. Velvet Soul {Johnny "Hammond" Smith} (8:54)

A2. In Sid's Thing {Gene Ammons} (5:26)

A3. Salome's Tune {Mal Waldron} (4:13)

B1. Light'n Up {Mal Waldron} (3:59)

B2. The Song Is You {Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II} (9:41)

B3. A Stranger In Town {Mel Tormé} (5:58)

Credits:

Supervision - Esmond Edwards

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Photography - Gai Terrell

Liner Notes - Michael Gold (Feb. 1964)

Gene Ammons - Up Tight! (1961) [vinyl>flac]

A great little session by Jug – cut after the late 50s blowing session years, and with a much tighter sound that's very much in the pocket! The record features two groups – one with Walter Bishop, Art Davis, and Art Taylor; the other with Patti Brown, George Duvivier, and Taylor – and both groups are backed by Ray Baretto, for a tight rolling groove. Most titles are standards or loosely composed lines, but Jug's tenor is in great form – and the setting features some wonderfully economic playing. Tracks include "Up Tight", "Jug's Blue Blues", "Lester Leaps In", and "The 5 O'Clock Whistle". © 1996-2013, Dusty Groove, Inc.

Gene Ammons recorded many albums for Prestige records. This LP serves as a good introduction for jazz lovers unfamiliar with his playing style. Typically Ammons sounds particularly warm and soulful throughout this album. Ammons is unique in his ability to play both hard bop and soul jazz numbers. Just listen to "The Breeze And I" and then try on "Lester Leaps In" as examples. Overall a great performance, well recommended!

Prestige Records, PR 7208, 1962

Recorded 17^th & 18^th October, 1961 at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Personnel:

Gene Ammons - Tenor Saxophone

Walter Bishop - Piano (#A1,A3,B2,B3)

Patti Bown - Piano (#A2,A4,B1)

Arthur Davis - Bass (#A1,A3,B2,B3)

George Duvivier - Bass (#A2,A4,B1)

Arthur Taylor - Drums

Ray Barretto - Conga Drum

Track Listing:

A1. The Breeze And I {Ernesto Lecuona} (6:23)

A2. I Sold My Heart To The Junkman {Leon Rene, Otis Rene} (4:31)

A3. Moonglow {Will Hudson, Irving Mills, Eddie DeLange} (5:02)

A4. Up Tight {Gene Ammons} (3:32)

B1. The Five O'Clock Whistle {Josef Myrow, Kim Gannon, Gene Irwin} (5:56)

B2. Jug's Blue Blues {Gene Ammons} (8:17)

B3. Lester Leaps In {Lester Young} (4:12)

Credits:

Supervisor - Esmond Edwards

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Liner Notes - Tom Wilson

Jackie McLean - Makin' The Changes (1957) [vinyl>flac]

I prepared this post for the RVG blog. Another contributor posted a CD rip, so rather than wasting my efforts I decided to offer it at the Crypt. This is a marvellous early album by Jackie McLean. It was recorded over two dates one consisting of a Quartet and the other as a Sextet; by the masterful Rudy van Gelder. These variants do detract from the album's flow, but taken individually the music is excellent and well played. The listener can easily discern the dynamics offered by Mal Waldron, Paul Chambers and Curtis Fuller to highlight a few of the great musicians on show here. Overall the album is an opportunity to experience some great hard bop that sounds fresh even in today’s diverse jazz world. Enjoy!

Makin' the Changes features altoist Jackie McLean in two different settings. On three selections -- a rollicking "Bean and the Boys," an up-tempo "I Never Knew" and "I Hear a Rhapsody" -- McLean teams up with pianist Mal Waldron in a quartet with bassist Arthur Phipps and drummer Art Taylor. The other three numbers ("What's New," " "Chasin' the Bird" and McLean's original "Jackie's Ghost") have more of a jam session feel, and feature McLean in a sextet with trumpeter Webster Young, trombonist Curtis Fuller, pianist Gil Coggins, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Louis Hayes. In general, the hard bop music is swinging and fairly advanced, a step above the usual jam sessions of the time. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.

New Jazz, NJLP 8231, 1960

Recorded 15^th February, 1957 (#A1,A3,B1) in Hackensack, New Jersey

Recorded 30^th August, 1957 (#A2,B2,B3) in Hackensack, New Jersey

Track Listing:

A1. Bean And The Boys {Coleman Hawkins} (8:32)

A2. What's New {Bob Haggart, Johnny Burke} (7:08)

A3. I Never Knew {Gus Kahn, Ted Fiorito} (2:58)

B1. I Hear A Rhapsody {Dick Gasparre, George Fragos, Jack Baker, Richard Bard} (5:07)

B2. Jackie's Ghost {Ray Draper} (5:26)

B3. Chasin' The Bird {Charlie Parker} (6:35)

Personnel:

Jackie McLean - Alto Saxophone

Curtis Fuller - Trombone (#A2,B2,B3)

Webster Young - Trumpet (#A2,B2,B3)

Mal Waldron - Piano (#A1,A3,B1)

Gil Coggins - Piano (#A2,B2,B3)

Arthur Phipps - Bass (#A1,A3,B1)

Paul Chambers - Bass (#A2,B2,B3)

Arthur Taylor - Drums (#A1, A3, B1)

Louis Hayes - Drums (#A2,B2,B3)

Credits:

Supervision - Bob Weinstock

Recording Engineer - Rudy Van Gelder

Cover Artwork - Esmond Edwards

Liner Notes - Nat Hentoff