Red Rodney’s 1980 sessions at
The Village Vanguard marked the beginning of his comeback and finds the
leader’s trumpet work in fine form. Two experienced horn players and a young
rhythm section made for a strong program with hard bop drama and pure musical
ballad sentiment. In the liner notes, Rodney states, "I was determined to
associate myself with young musicians in order to move ahead with the music of
today." Ira Sullivan picks up the flugelhorn as Red Rodney carefully
interweaves muted trumpet lines around Johnny Mandel’s "A Time For
Love." And they both opt for flugelhorns on "What Can We Do"
with Sullivan coming from the right channel, Rodney from the left. Again, on
the final track, the two seasoned veterans perform together on trumpet and
flugelhorn. Jack Walrath, who wrote half the tunes on this program, contributed
much to Rodney's band library over the years. It's Walrath's "Come Home To
Red" that allows the leader to pour his open trumpet sound over the room
(backed by Sullivan's gentle flute fills) as a reminder that one of his
earliest influences was Harry James. After a long career with several
disturbing setbacks, it's nice to remember that Red Rodney succeeded in the end
by passing the torch on triumphantly to the next generation. ~ Extract by Jim
Santella, AllAboutJazz.
Muse Records, MR 5209, 1980
Recorded 8th &
9th May and 5th July, 1980, At The Village Vanguard, New
York City
Musicians:
Red Rodney - Trumpet
(#A1-A3,B2,B3), Flügelhorn (#A2,B1)
Ira Sullivan - Flügelhorn
(#A2,B1,B3), Soprano Sax (#A1), Tenor Sax (#A3), Flute (#B2)
Garry Dial - Piano
Paul Berner - Bass
Tom Whaley - Drums
Tracks:
A1. Lodgellian Mode {Jack
Walrath} (8:41)
A2. A Time For Love {Johnny
Mandel} (5:36)
A3. Mr. Oliver {Jeff Meyer}
(8:42)
B1. What Can We Do {Simon
Salz} (9:54)
B2. Come Home To Red {Jack
Walrath} (5:06)
B3. Blues In The Guts {Jack
Walrath} (6:38)
Credits:
Producer - Bob Porter
Recording Engineer - Malcolm
Addey (Remote Facilities)
Mastering Engineer - Joe
Brescio At The Master Cutting Room, NYC
Cover Design - Mark Larson
Liner Notes - Red Rodney
