Eddie Jefferson, one of the great jazz singers and an important pioneer of vocalese, is heard in peak form on this Evidence CD which reissues an Inner City LP and adds six previously unissued selections to the program. The bulk of the music is from 1959-1961, with Jefferson backed by several horns including trumpeter Howard McGhee and tenor saxophonist James Moody, and sometimes three other vocalists. There are many highlights including Jefferson's original classic versions of "Body and Soul" (a tribute to Coleman Hawkins, the "king of the saxophone") and "So What" (dedicated to Miles Davis), a remake of "Moody's Mood for Love" and vocalese adaptations of a few Lester Young and Charlie Parker solos. Most of the unissued tracks are from these sessions, but there is also "Silly Little Cynthia" from 1964 (a duet with pianist Tommy Tucker) and a meeting with guitarist Louisiana Red on 1965's "Red's New Dream." When one considers that Jefferson otherwise did not record during 1963-1967, it makes those two numbers not only enjoyable but historic. This CD is highly recommended for all jazz collections. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.
Le Chant Du Monde, LDJ 274
946, 1989
Recorded 1959 (2,4-12,17-18)
/ 1961 (1,3,13-16) in New York
Tracks:
01. So What {Miles Davis}
(3:30)
02. Moody's Mood For Love
{Fields, McHugh, Moody} (3:10)
03. Sister Sadie {Horace
Silver} (2:44)
04. It's Only A Paper Moon
{Arlen, Harburg, Rose} (3:03)
05. TD's Boogie Woogie
{Pinetop Smith} (2:26)
06. Now's The Time {Charlie
Parker} (3:01)
07. Body And Soul {Eyton,
Green, Heyman, Sour} (3:33)
08. Workshop {Gil Fuller}
(2:57)
09. Sherry {Hank Crawford}
(3:04)
10. Baby Girl {Eddie
Jefferson} (3:18)
11. Memphis {Eddie Jefferson}
(2:52)
12. Honeysuckle Rose {Andy
Razaf, Fats Waller} (2:18)
13. The Preacher [A Crazy
Romance] {Horace Silver} (2:27)
14. Night Train {Forrest,
Simpkins, Washington} (2:34)
15. NJR [I'm Gone] {Quincy
Jones} (3:18)
16. I Got The Blues {Lester
Young} (2:41)
17. Silly Little Cynthia
(Eddie Jefferson} (1:57)
18. Red's New Dream (Eddie
Jefferson} (4:43)
Total Time: 52:43
Credits:
Producer [Original] - Herb Abramson
(#1-12)
Compilation Director -
Jean-Louis Méchali
CD Release Coordinator -
Nicole de Pretto
Photography - D.R.
Liner Notes - Jacques Denis
#1-12 originally released as
The Jazz Singer [Vocal Improvisations On Famous Jazz Solos]
Inner City Records [IC 1016]
1976
