Gene Ammons - Boss Tenor (1960)

This relaxed, swinging quintet session from 1960 isn't the landmark that many of the other releases in this series are. But it is among the finest, most rewarding music tenor great Gene Ammons (1925-74) ever made. Boss Tenor - easily confused with Boss Tenors, the 1961 Verve record Ammons cut with Sonny Stitt - is probably included here due to Ammons's enduring and unprecedented affiliation with Prestige. Ammons recorded over 50 albums for the label from 1950, around the time of the label's inception, until Ammons's death in 1974 (interrupted only by seven years in jail between 1962 and 1969). A warm, burnished, consistently recognizable tone always blew through Ammons's horn and the assured, identifiable manner he could scale ballads, blues, bop and r&b was always reliable and appealing. Here, though, he is ideally teamed with the gracefully elegant and innately soulful pianist Tommy Flanagan, Prestige house bassist, Doug Watkins, and house drummer, Art Taylor, and with just the right amount of Latin spice, Ray Barretto's congas. The feel, less loose than many of the 1950s jam sessions that Ammons participated in, seems unusually well considered and as rehearsed as any Blue Note date. Ammons chooses well here too, glossing musically over Bird's "Confirmation," Bill Doggett's "Savoy" and easing lovingly through Rodgers and Hart's "My Romance" (ranking right up there with Ben Webster's classic interpretations). Two "hits" actually emerged from this record, making it one well worth acquiring: Ammon's soulful blues, "Hittin' The Jug," and a swinging rendition of the otherwise corny pop hit "Canadian Sunset." A winner all the way around, and one of the definitive additions to Ammons's huge discography. ~ Douglas Payne, AllAboutJazz.com.

Prestige Records, PRLP 7180, 1960

Concord Music Group, 00025218810227, 2006

Recorded 16^th June, 1960 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Gene Ammons - Tenor Saxophone

Tommy Flanagan - Piano

Doug Watkins - Bass

Art Taylor - Drums

Ray Barretto - Congas

Tracks:

1. Hittin' The Jug {Gene Ammons} (8:28)

2. Close Your Eyes {Bernice Pelkere} (3:44)

3. My Romance {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (4:13)

4. Canadian Sunset {Eddie Heywood, Norman Gimbel} (5:25)

5. Blue Ammons {Gene Ammons} (4:58)

6. Confirmation {Charlie Parker} (5:25)

7. Stompin' At The Savoy {Benny Goodman, Chick Webb, Edgar Sampson} (3:32)

Total Time: 35:35

Credits:

Supervision - Esmond Edwards

Reissue Producer - Nick Phillips, Bob Porter

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Remastering - Rudy van Gelder, 2005

Reissue Production Assistant - Stuart Kremsky

Cover Photo - Esmond Edwards

Original Liner Notes - Leroi Jones

Reissue Liner Notes - Bob Porter, 2005

Gene Ammons - "JUG" (1961) [re-rip]

Tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons recorded many albums during 1961-1962, a busy period that was brought to an abrupt halt by his arrest for narcotics abuse. Jug finds the great tenor in excellent form, interpreting six standards and two of his originals with the assistance of pianist Richard Wyands, bassist Doug Watkins, drummer J.C. Heard, and the congas of Ray Barretto; Sleepy Anderson replaces Wyands on two songs, one of which he takes on organ. Few surprises occur, but fans will not be disappointed by his soulful and lyrical playing. ~ Scott Yanow, AMG.

JUG was Gene Ammons' nickname. This 1961 session finds tenor saxophonist Ammons doing what he does best-ballads and easy grooves. The lazy pace of the opening "Ol' Man River" belies a subtly propulsive momentum. Conga-drum player Ray Barretto augments the backing trio of piano, bass, and drums. Ammons frequently bolstered his rhythm sections thusly, this wise approach adding a range of embellishing counter-rhythms to the open feel of the music. Ammons wrote two blues for this set, "Seed Shack" and "Miss Lucy." The saxophonist recorded so much music, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that he never faltered in the studio. JUG is an exceptional example of Ammons' early '60s output. ~ Excerpts from CD.Universe.com

Prestige Records, PRLP 7192, 1961

Prestige Records, PR 7192, 1972

Recorded 27^th January, 1961 Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Musicians:

Gene Ammons - Tenor Saxophone

Richard Wyands - Piano (#A1-A3,B1,B2,B4)

Clarence "Sleepy" Anderson - Piano (#A4), Organ (#B3)

Doug Watkins - Bass

J.C. Heard - Drums

Ray Barretto - Conga Drum

Tracks:

A1. Ol' Man River {Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern} (5:11)

A2. Easy To Love {Cole Porter} 4:16)

A3. Seed Shack {Gene Ammons} (5:40)

A4. Let It Be You {Clarence "Sleepy" Anderson} (3:50)

B1. Exactly Like You {Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh} (6:00)

B2. Miss Lucy {Paul Weston} (3:42)

B3. Namely You {Gene DePaul, Johnny Mercer} (4:47)

B4. Tangerine {Johnny Mercer, Victor Schertzinger} (3:37)

Credits:

Producer, Cover Photo - Esmond Edwards

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder
Design - Don Schlitten

Liner Notes - Joe Goldberg

Note:

J.C. Heard not listed on album cover.

This rip from Re-Issue Stereo LP released in 1972.

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

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - For Lovers (1959-69) [vinyl]

A marvellous compilation of great soul jazz standards played by the talented organist Johnny “Hammond” Smith taken from some of his classic New Jazz and Prestige sides spanning 1959 through to 1969. He is joined by an amazing and diverse cast of players: Thornel Schwartz, Freddie McCoy, Houston Person, Eddie McFadden, Rusty Bryant, Wally Richardson, Earl Edwards, Ray Barretto, George Tucker, Leo Stevens, Wendell Marshall, to name a few, Enjoy!

Prestige Records, PRST 7777, 1970

Tracklisting:

A1. Bye Bye Blackbird {Mort Dixon, Ray Henderson} (4:30)

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Organ

Thornel Schwartz - Guitar

George Tucker - Bass

Leo Stevens - Drums

Recorded 4^th November, 1959 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - That Good Feelin'

New Jazz [NJLP 8229]

A2. Because You Left Me {Johnny "Hammond" Smith} (5:27)

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Organ

Freddie McCoy - Vibraphone

Eddie McFadden - Guitar

Wendell Marshall - Bass

Leo Stevens - Drums

Recorded 12^th May, 1961 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Stimulation

Prestige Records [PRLP 7203]

A3. On A Clear Day {Alan Jay Lerner, Burton Lane} (4:20)

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Organ

Otis Sutton - Alto Saxophone

Houston Person - Tenor Saxophone

Eddie McFadden - Guitar

Leo Stevens - Drums

Recorded 4^th January, 1966 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Johnny "Hammond" Smith, Byrdie Green - Stringer Meets The Golden Thrush

Prestige Records [PR 7464]

A4. A Portrait Of Jenny {Russell Robinson, Gordon Burdge} (2:21)

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Organ

George Tucker - Bass

Art Taylor - Drums

Ray Barretto - Congas

Recorded 22^nd April, 1960 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Talk That Talk

New Jazz [NJLP 8241]

B1. Sad Eyes {Johnny "Hammond" Smith} (4:50)

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Organ

Freddie McCoy - Vibraphone

Eddie McFadden - Guitar

Wendell Marshall - Bass

Leo Stevens - Drums

Recorded 12^th May, 1961 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Opus De Funk

Prestige Records [PR 7420]

B2. All Soul {Curtis Lewis} (4:17)

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Organ

Rusty Bryant - Tenor, Alto Saxophone, Varitone

Wally Richardson - Guitar

Bob Bushnell - Electric Bass

Bernard Purdie - Drums

Recorded 19^th May, 1969 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Soul Talk

Prestige Records [PR 7681]

B3. There Is No Greater Love {Isham Jones, Marty Symes} (5:30)

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Organ

Earl Edwards - Tenor Saxophone

Floyd Smith - Guitar

John Harris - Drums

Recorded 7^th May, 1965 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - The Stinger

Prestige Records [PR 7408]

B4. An Affair To Remember {Harry Warren, Leo McCarey, Harold Adamson} (2:33)

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Organ

George Tucker - Bass

Art Taylor - Drums

Ray Barretto - Congas

Recorded 22^nd April, 1960 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Talk That Talk

New Jazz [NJLP 8241]

Ray Bryant And His Combo - Dancing The Big Twist (1960) [re-rip]

This Ray Bryant album was released on Columbia Records in 1961. Dancing The Big Twist is basically an album of novelty tunes with a twist theme, including "Twist City," "Twistin' On A Cat's Paw," and "Do That Twist." This session will appeal to those who favour Bryant's dance hit of the era, "MadisonTime."

Columbia Records, CS 8546, 1961

Musicians:

Ray Bryant - Piano

Harry Edison - Trumpet (#B3)

Joe Newman - Trumpet (#A1-B2,B4)

Pat Jenkins - Trumpet (#A1-B2,B4)

Matthew Gee - Trombone (#A1-B2,B4)

Buddy Tate - Tenor Saxophone (#A1-B2,B4)

Ben Richardson - Baritone Saxophone (#B3)

Jimmy Rowser - Bass (#A1-B2,B4)

Bill Lee - Bass (#B3)

Mickey Roker - Drums (#A1-B2,B4)

Gus Johnson - Drums (#B3)

Ray Barretto - Bongos, Scraper (#B3)

Don Covay - Vocals (#A2)

Tracks:

A1. Twist City {Matthew Gee} (5:44)

A2. Just A Little Bit Of Twist {Don Covay} (2:47)

A3. Big Susie {Ray Bryant} (5:21)

A4. Twist On {Ray Bryant} (4:45)

B1. Twistin' On A Cat's Paw {Buddy Tate} (5:00)

B2. Mo-Lasses {Joe Newman} (5:16)

B3. Fast Twist {Harry Edison, Ray Bryant} (2:16)

B4. Do That Twist [Early In The Morning] {Matthew Gee} (5:32)

Credits:

Producer, Liner Notes - John Hammond

Willis Jackson - Thunderbird (1962) [vinyl]

A massive groover - and a set that rumbles as much as you might guess from the title! The album's got Willis Jackson blowing in a very open, loud tenor tone - working with an unusual group that features Freddie Roach on organ, and Wild Bill Jennings on guitar - the former a hip, smooth keyboardist, the latter a rougher, bluesier player - making for a really nice mix of modes! There's a deep soul jazz bottom throughout - and titles include "Thunderbird", "Lady Be Good", "Back & Forth", and "California Sun". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Right from the title track opener, it's apparent that Jackson's heading straight for basic soul-jazz. Anchoring the composition around a basic R&B riff and Jackson's wailing tenor, it's the kind of song that could have been used just as well for teenage twisting as jazz bars, which is not to its detriment at all. While the cover of "California Sun" (which would be a number pop hit for the Rivieras in 1964) also seems like a stab at pop accessibility, there are detours into more inside jazz with the interpretations of "Body and Soul" and the Gershwins' "Oh Lady, Be Good." "A Penny Serenade," grounded by Ray Barretto's congas, ends the set on a lively and playful note. Freddie Roach fills the organ chair on this set, and guitarist Bill Jennings gets some tasteful licks in, particularly during "A Penny Serenade." ~ Extract by Richie Unterberger, AMG.

Prestige Records, PRST 7232, 1962

Recorded 31^st March, 1962 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Musicians:

Willis Jackson - Tenor Saxophone

Freddie Roach - Organ

Bill Jennings - Guitar

Wendell Marshall - Bass

Frank Shea - Drums

Ray Barretto - Congas

Tracks:

A1. Thunderbird {Willis Jackson} (5:04)

A2. Oh, Lady Be Good {George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin} (5:25)

A3. Back & Forth {Willis Jackson, Bill Jennings} (9:15)

B1. California Sun {Henry Glover, Morris Levy} (3:50)

B2. Body & Soul {Frank Eyton, Johnny Green, Edward Heyman, Robert Sour} (7:52)

B3. A Penny Serenade {Darren Halifax, Melle Weersma} (7:45)

Credits:

Supervisor - Esmond Edwards

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Cover Photo - Don Schlitten

Liner Notes - LeRoi Jones

George Benson - The Other Side of Abbey Road (1969) [vinyl>flac,24b/48k]

A wonderfully wicked album – one that sold so many copies that it's sometimes hard to remember how great it is! George takes on all of Abbey Road – or just about all of it – as he runs through some of the most beautiful tracks The Beatles ever wrote, like "Golden Slumbers", "I Want You (She's So Heavy)", "The End", "Because", and "You Never Give Me Your Money". The whole thing's set to some great baroque jazzy arrangements by Don Sebesky, and George digs the whole thing so much that he even sings a bit – vocalizing in a cool chromatic way that really works well with his guitar playing, and which would soon transform into a very popular style on his records of the 70s. Keyboards are by Bob James and Herbie Hancock – and there's plenty of other great jazz players in the mix! © Dusty Groove, Inc.

A&M Records, SP-3028, 1970

Recorded 22^nd,23^rd October and 4^th,5^th November, 1969
at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

George Benson - Guitar

Freddie Hubbard - Trumpet

Bernie Glow, Marvin Stamm, Mel Davis - Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Wayne Andre - Trombone, Euphonium

Sonny Fortune - Alto Saxophone

Jerome Richardson - Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute

Don Ashworth - Baritone Saxophone

Hubert Laws - Flute

Phil Bodner - Flute, Oboe

Don Ashworth - Bass Clarinet

Bob James, Ernie Hayes, Herbie Hancock - Piano, Organ, Harpsichord

Jerry Jemmott, Ron Carter - Bass

George Ricci - Cello

Ed Shaughnessy, Idris Muhammad - Drums

Andy Gonzalez, Ray Barretto - Percussion

Max Pollikoff, Raoul Poliakin - Violin

Emanuel Vardi - Viola

Track Listing:

A1-A2. Golden Slumbers {Lennon, McCartney}/
You Never Give Me Your Money {Lennon, McCartney} (4:47)

A2. Because/Come Together {Lennon, McCartney} (7:27)

A4. Oh, Darling {Lennon, McCartney} (4:01)

B1-B2. Here Comes The Sun {George Harrison}/
I Want You [She So Heavy] {Lennon, McCartney} (9:04)

B3. Something {George Harrison}/
Octopus's Garden {Richard Starkey} (4:31)

B4. The End {Lennon, McCartney} (1:57)

Credits:

Producer - Creed Taylor

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Arranger - Don Sebesky

Design [Album] - Sam Antupit

Photography - Eric Meola

Herbie Mann - Glory Of Love (1967) [vinyl>flac]

Flutist Herbie Mann is backed by a large rhythm section and a small horn section on this Creed Taylor-produced A&M set (which has been reissued on CD). Actually the most interesting aspect of the R&B-oriented date (which includes such songs as "Hold on, I'm Comin'," "House of the Risin' Sun" and "Unchain My Heart") is that the up-and-coming flutist Hubert Laws is matched with Mann on several tracks.  ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.

This album is from Taylor's A&M period, and fronted by flautist Herbie Mann, it features a stellar line-up of soul-jazz studio musicians. There's a lot of pop soul here, and a sampling of the latin styles that both Mann and Taylor were known for. You'll find young Roy Ayers and Sonny Sharrock here (dig Ayers' awesome vibes solo on the cover of soul hit "The Letter" for a virtual blueprint of his Ubiquity sound). Listen to Ayers and Sharrock duet on the cover of "Hold On I'm Coming" over the unrelenting funk of Grady Tate on drums. Edu Lobo's "Upa Neguinho" gets a terrific treatment. The title track is pure CTI schmalz. And capitalizing off Taylor's eye for turning adult pop hits into jazz is "Love Is Far Stronger than We" covered from the A Man And A Woman soundtrack. "Oh How I Want To Love You" is a slinky sexy grind of a song, and, gasp, actually a Herbie Mann original.

CTI/A&M, SP-3003, 1968

Recorded 26^th (#A1,A3,A4,A5,B3), 27^th (#B4) July; 19^th (#B1) September;
6^th (#A2,A6,B2) October, 1967 at Van Gelder Studios, New Jersey

Track Listing:

A1. No Use Crying {Roy Gaines, Freddie Kober, Johnnie Daniels} (3:03)

A2. Hold On, I'm Coming {Isaac Hayes, David Porter} (3:11)

A3. Glory Of Love {Billy Hill} (2:41)

A4. Unchain My Heart {Freddy James, Agnus Jones} (3:09)

A5. House Of The Rising Sun {Traditional} (3:08)

A6. The Letter {Wayne Carson} (3:22)

B1. Upa, Neguinho {Edu Lobo, Gianfrancesco Guarnieri} (2:40)

B2. Love Is Stronger Far Than We {Pierre Barouh, Francis Lai, Jerry Keller} (3:10)

B3. Oh, How I Want To Love You {Herbie Mann} (5:31)

B4. In And Out {Herbie Mann} (4:33)

Personnel:

Herbie Mann - Flute

Hubert Laws - Flute, Piccolo Flute (#A1,A3,A4,A5,B1,B3,B4)

Joe Grimaldi - Saxophone (#B1)

Benny Powell - Trombone (#B1)

Burt Collins - Trumpet, Flugelhorn (#B1)

Ernie Royal - Trumpet, Flugelhorn (#B1)

Roy Ayers - Vibraphone (#A2,A6,B2)

Ted Sommer - Vibraphone (#B1)

Paul Griffin - Piano (#B1)

Roy Glover - Piano (#A1,A3,A4,A5,B3,B4), Organ (#A1,A3,A5,A5,B3,B4)

Roland Hanna - Piano (#B4), Organ (#B4)

Eric Gale - Guitar (#A1,A3,A4,A5,B1,B3)

Jay Berliner - Guitar (#B1)

Sunny Sharrock - Guitar (#A2,A6,B2)

Ron Carter - Bass (#A1,A3,A4,A5,B1,B3,B4)

Earl May - Bass (#A2,A6,B2)

Grady Tate - Drums (#A1-A6,B2-B4)

Herb Lovelle - Drums (#B1)

Johnny Pacheco - Percussion (#B1)

Ray Barretto - Percussion (#B1)

Ted Sommer - Percussion (#B1)

Plus Horns and Unidentified Chorus

Credits:

Producer - Creed Taylor

Recording Engineer - Rudy Van Gelder

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