Gentle Gator is a compilation album by American jazz saxophonist Willis "Gator" Jackson, released in 1995 by Prestige Records. The album showcases the "mellow" side of Jackson, who was primarily known as a high-energy "honker" and rhythm and blues tenor man. The collection features recordings from 1961 and 1962, focusing on "deep soul ballads" and "caressing blue ballads". It includes tracks originally released on his Prestige albums like In My Solitude (Moodsville, Vol. 17), Really Groovin' (Prestige 7196), Neopolitan Nights (Prestige 7264) and Shuckin' (Prestige 7260). Jackson is joined by notable sidemen including pianists Tommy Flanagan and Richard Wyands, guitarists Kenny Burrell and Bucky Pizzarelli, bassists Peck Morrison and Wendell Marshall, Drummers Mickey Roker and Gus Johnson, conga player Juan Amalbert, along with a myriad of other fine musicians. Overall, this album captures Jackson's ability to render "ravishing" and "enchanted" balladry.
Prestige Records, PRCD-24158-2,
1995
Recorded 11th April, 1961
(#1,2,4,10-12) [My Solitude]
Recorded 10th January, 1961
(#3,6-8) [Really Groovin']
Recorded 19th December, 1962
(#5) [Neopolitan Nights]
Recorded 30th October, 1962
(#9) [Shuckin']
Musicians:
Willis Jackson - Tenor Sax
Richard Wyands - Piano
(#1,2,4,10-12)
Jimmy Neeley - Piano (#3,6-8)
Gildo Mahones - Piano (#5)
Tommy Flanagan - Piano (#9)
Bucky Pizzarelli - Guitar
(#5)
Kenny Burrell - Guitar (#9)
Peck Morrison - Bass
(#1,2,4,10-12)
Wendell Marshall - Bass
(#3,6-8)
George Tucker - Bass (#5)
Eddie Calhoun - Bass (#9)
Mickey Roker - Drums
(#1,2,4,10-12)
Gus Johnson - Drums (#3,6-8)
Bobby Donaldson - Drums (#5)
Roy Haynes - Drums (#9)
Juan Amalbert - Congas (#3,6-9)
Montego Joe - Congas (#5), Percussion (#9)
Jose Paulo - Percussion (#9)
Tracks:
01. Solitude {Duke Ellington,
Eddie Delange, Irving Mills} (5:04)
02. Estrellita {Manuel María Ponce Cuéllar} (4:10)
03. Girl Of My Dreams {Sunny
Clapp} (6:36)
04. It Never Entered My Mind
{Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (4:01)
05. Al Di La {Carlo Donida} (4:46)
06. Careless Love
{Traditional} (4:24)
07. I Remember Clifford
{Benny Golson} (3:48)
08. Again {Dorcas Cochran,
Lionel Newman} (4:05)
09. Amor {Gabriel Ruiz, Ricardo Lopez Mendez} (7:48)
10. Nancy [With The Laughing
Face] {Jimmy Van Heusen, Phil Silvers} (5:22)
11. Home {Geoffrey Clarkson,
Harry Clarkson, Peter Van Steeden} (5:10)
12. They Didn't Believe Me
{Jerome Kern, Michael E. Rourke} (3:37)
Total Time: 58:51
Credits:
Supervisor - Esmond Edwards
(#1-4,6-8,10-12)
Supervisor - Ozzie Cadena
(#5,9)
Recording Engineer - Rudy van
Gelder
Digital Remastering - Phil De
Lancie
Compilation, Liner Notes -
Bob Porter
Art Direction - Phil Carroll
Liner Notes - Sidney Falco
