Shirley Scott’s Roll ‘Em is interesting on several levels, the first being that you are no doubt already keenly aware of the songs Shirley is laying down here with her seventeen-piece big band, so it’s a hoot to simply sit back and listen to the tunes without the due consideration jazz-listening often requires. Secondly, there’s nothing unexpected delivered on this record, everything … the enunciation, the chords, the notes, the take, it’s all been done before, leaving Roll ’Em to simply be a breezy foray into the musical insights and sounds that are created here. Though when "Stompin' At The Savoy" washed across my listen space, I was raptured with the flanking path Scott’s organ took this song. Oddly enough, when one considers women in jazz, the first names that come to mind are usually the singers, Ella Fitzgerald or Billie Holiday, perhaps because singers are easier to spot and identify. Shirley was a lush beautiful petite and very powerful for her size and time, so it sparked my imagination that she might be taking on these songs purposely, numbers that seemed rather too large or expansive for a woman to embrace, where Scott shows the world that she’s more than capable of helming a big band, charting its course, and coming out the other side proving that she can stand toe to toe with anyone when it comes to music that is easily compared. So, while I don’t want to dismiss this outing as uninventive or not being challenging enough, it is impressive to hear Shirley create perfect flawless circles, that while not bold or majestic, hit at the heart of all that’s pure, and dare I suggest innocent, when it comes to the purest elements of sophistication. After all, a simple black dress with an understated string of pearls speaks volumes, without the need for showiness or exuberance. ~ by Jenell Kesler, discogs.com.
Impulse! Records, AS-9119,
1972
GRP Records, GRD-147, 1994
Recorded 15th (#7-10) &
19th (#1-6) April, 1966 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Personnel:
========
#1-4:
Shirley Scott - Organ
Thad Jones, Joe Newman, Jimmy
Nottingham, Ernie Royal, Clark Terry - Trumpet
Paul Faulise, Quentin
Jackson, Melba Liston - Trombone
Tom McIntosh - Trombones
Phil Woods, Jerry Dodgion -
Alto Saxophone
Bob Ashton, Jerome Richardson
- Tenor Saxophone
Danny Bank - Baritone
Saxophones
Attila Zoller - Guitar
George Duvivier - Bass
Grady Tate - Drums
Oliver Nelson - Conductor,
Arranger
#5-6:
Shirley Scott - Organ,
Arranger (#5)
George Duvivier - Bass
Grady Tate - Drums
#7-10:
Shirley Scott - Organ
Richard Davis - Bass
Ed Shaughnessy - Drums
Tracks:
01. Roll 'Em {Mary Lou
Williams} (4:08)
02. For Dancers Only {Don
Raye, Sy Oliver, Vic Schoen} (3:43)
03. Sophisticated Swing
{Mitchell Parish, Will Hudson} (2:50)
04. Sometimes I'm Happy {Grey,
Caesar, Youmans} (3:53)
05. Little Brown Jug {Joseph
Eastburn Winner; Arr. Shirley Scott} (3:57)
06. Stompin' At The Savoy {Razaf,
Goodman, Webb, Sampson} (3:58)
07. Ain't Misbehavin' {Andy
Razaf, Harry Brooks, Fats Waller} (3:31)
08. A Tisket A Tasket {Ella
Fitzgerald, Van Alexander} (3:55)
09. Things Ain't What They
Used To Be {Duke Ellington, Ted Persons} (5:19)
10. Tippin' In {Bobby Smith,
Marty Symes} (4:33)
Total Time: 39:54
Credits:
Producer - Bob Thiele
Recording Engineer - Rudy van
Gelder
Reissue Producer - Michael
Cuscuna
Executive Producer - Dave
Grusin, Larry Rosen
Organist Shirley Scott
focuses on swing-era tunes throughout this enjoyable album. Four songs showcase
her organ accompanied by a 17-piece big band arranged by Oliver Nelson while
the remaining six numbers find her jamming with a trio that also includes
either George Duvivier or Richard Davis on bass and Grady Tate or Ed
Shaughnessy on drums. Although nothing all that unexpected occurs, it is fun to
hear an organ performing such numbers as "For Dancers Only,"
"Little Brown Jug" and "Stompin' At The Savoy." ~ Scott Yanow, AMG
Sometimes I'm Happy
