Gene Ammons - Sock! (1954,55,62) [re-rip]

Sock! is an album by Gene Ammons compiling sessions recorded between 1954 and 1962 and released on Prestige in 1965.

A striking title - and a strong set of grooves, even if the tracks were pulled from a variety of different sessions, and not recorded as a unified album. Jug plays tenor on all cuts - working in formats that range from a Mal Waldron led trio to larger honking groups with horn players like Henderson Chambers, Cecil Payne, Nate Woodward, and Gene Easton. Tracks are short, and most are pretty rocking - with titles that include "Blue Coolade", "Short Stop", "Scam", "Sock", "What I Say", and "Rock Roll". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Prestige Records, PR 7400, 1965

Recorded 26^th November, 1954 (B1-B4); 4^th November, 1955 (#B5,B6);

Recorded 13^th April, 1962 (#A4) & 5^th September, 1962 (#A1-A3)

At Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey

Personnel:

Gene Ammons - Tenor Saxophone

Nate Woodward - Trumpet (#B1-B6)

Henderson Chambers - Trombone (#B1-B4)

Edwin Moore - Trombone (#B5-B6)

Gene Easton - Baritone Saxophone (#B1-B4)

Cecil Payne - Baritone Saxophone (#B5-B6)

Mal Waldron - Piano (#A1-A3)

Patti Bown - Piano (#A4)

John Houston - Piano (#B1-B4)

Lawrence Wheatley - Piano (#B5-B6)

Wendell Marshall - Bass (#A1-A3)

George Duvivier - Bass (#A4)

Ben Steuberville - Bass (#B1-B4)

Ernie Shepherd - Bass (#B5-B6)

Ed Thigpen - Drums (#A1-A3)

Walter Perkins - Drums (#A4)

George Brown - Drums (#B1-B6)

Tracks:

A1. Blue Coolade {Mal Waldron} (4:11)

A2. Short Stop {Mal Waldron} (3:33)

A3. They Say You're Laughing At Me {Jerry Livingston} (3:58)

A4. Scam {Gene Ammons} (5:27)

B1. Sock! {Gene Ammons} (2:47)

B2. What I Say {Ray Charles} (2:38)

B3. Count Your Blessings {Richard Morgan} (4:25)

B4. Cara Mia {Lee Lange, Tulio Trapani} (3:08)

B5. Blues For Turfers {Gene Ammons} (4:03)

B6. Rock Roll {Chico O'Farrill} (2:58)

Total Time: 37:09

Credits:

Supervision - Esmond Edwards [Side A] - Bob Weinstock [Side B]

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Design - Don Schlitten

Liner Notes - Jack McKinney (July, 1965)

Gene Ammons - Boss Soul! (1966) [vinyl]

One of Gene Ammons' classics from the 60s, and a straight-ahead session of soul jazz tenor and piano, with drums by Art Taylor and a bit of extra conga from Ray Barretto. Nice rolling 60's soul jazz groove, and some nice piano comping behind Jug by Patti Brown and Walter Bishop Jr. Tracks include "Travelin", "Soft Summer Breeze", "Carbow", and "Song of The Islands". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Prestige Records, PRST 7445, 1966

Recorded 17^th (#B1-B3) & 18^th October (#A1-A4), 1961

At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Musicians:

Gene Ammons - Tenor Saxophone

Patti Bown - Piano (#A1-A4)

Walter Bishop Jr. - Piano (#B1-B3)

George Duvivier - Bass (#A1-A4)

Art Davis - Bass (#B1-B3)

Art Taylor - Drums

Ray Barretto - Congas

Tracks:

A1. Soft Summer Breeze {Eddie Heywood} (4:50)

A2. Don't Go To Strangers {Arthur Kent, David Mann, Redd Evans} (6:24)

A3. Song Of The Islands {Charles E. King} (5:12)

A4. Travelin' {Gene Ammons} (3:39)

B1. Carbow {Gene Ammons} (6:07)

B2. I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over {Allie Wrubel, Herbert Magidson} (6:01)

B3. I'm Beginning To See The Light {Don George, Duke Ellington, Harry James, Johnny Hodges} (4:48)

Credits:

Supervision - Esmond Edwards

Recording & Mastering Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Liner Notes - Bob Porter

Design, Photo - Don Schlitten

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