Gene Ammons In Sweden

This is a re-up for Malaspina, originally posted at the "old" Crypt in 2012.

I hope everybody will have a look through our archive of Ammons - uploaded by our very own Chris!! http://kccryptredux.blogspot.ca/search/label/Gene%20Ammons

I am not a huge Ammons fan.  What I mean by that is, he's not an artist whom I have explored deeply.  I have several key sides like Boss Tenor and Happy Blues, but so do most self respecting jazz fans.

This LP takes us a bit deeper, of course because it's live, but also due to a certain charm.  We get a nice dose of Jugs on the mic, introducing songs and interacting with the crowd.  But it's his playing, well actually the whole band's playing, which grabs me unlike many of his other sides.  "Je ne sais quoi..."

The group is really relaxed and give each other all kinds of space.  The vibe really comes through as these guys stretch out on the uptempo numbers.  That would be reserved for side one, side two brings in the balladry and things get down right sublime.  Horace Parlan shows his gifts again and again, he really is a joy to listen to.  As for Ammons, he seems to know exactly what to bring...and how to bring it!  Overall we get a nice dose of his bag of tricks.

ENJA released this in 1981, but the date took place on July 14th, 1973.  There is almost a bootleg feel to this LP, both in presentation on the sleeve and in sound quality.  Sure, it's no Van Gelder, but far from unenjoyable.  I tend to over obsess about audio quality and I have no issues with this side.  It was released as part of a "two-fer", along with a Ben Webster live date, on CD but is OOP.

This album is a minty ENJA stereo LP, ripped at 24/44.1 wav and dithered to 16/44.1 FLAC.  It should be noted that there are infact 5 tracks on this album, but you are only receiving 4.  Polka Dots And Moonbeams has a seamless segueway into Lover Man, so I merged the two tracks and left them intact.  Taking liberties yes, but once you hear it I think you'll understand why.  A great way to end a gorgeous weekend, but it's always sunny at the Crypt no?  Enjoy!!

ENJA 3093
Produced by Inge Dahl
Recorded and Mixed by Berndt Berndtson
Recorded live at the Ahus Jazz Fest on July 14th, 1973 in Sweden

Gene Ammons (ts);  Horace Parlan (p);  Red Mitchell (b);  Ed Jones (d)

Carmen McRae - Carmen For Cool Ones (1957) [vinyl>flac]

Hip early work from Carmen McCrae - with jazzy arrangements by Fred Katz, featuring mostly west coast players running through some off-kilter backings that give Carmen a different sound than usual. The album's definitely got the "cool" in the title, but Carmen's sophisticated phrasing of the songs brings a lot of warmth to the tracks - in a kind of counterpoint that works really well with the music. Titles include "I Remember Clifford", "What's New", "Weak For The Man", "A Shoulder To Cry On", "Any Old Time", "Without A Word Of Warning", and "The Night We Called It A Day". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Decca Records, DL 8738, 1958

Recorded 1957

Personnel:

Carmen McRae - Vocals

Pete Candoli - Trumpet (#A6)

Ray Lion - Trumpet (#A6)

Milt Bernhart - Trombone (#A6)

Bob Enevoldsen - Trombone (#A6)

Tommy Johnson - Tuba (#A6)

Buddy Collette - Flute, Alto Saxophone (#A2,A4,B4,B6)

George W. Smith - Clarinet (#A1,A2,A4,B1,B3,B4,B6)

Justin Gordon - Bass Clarinet (#A1,A2,A4,B1,B3,B4,B6)

Mahlon Clark - Bass Clarinet (#A1,B1,B3)

Bill Green - Flute (#A1,B1,B3)

Harry Klee - Flute [Solo] (#A1,B1,B3)

Warren Webb - Oboe (#A2,A4,B4,B6)

Larry Bunker - Vibraphone (#A3,A5,B2,B5), Drums (#A6)

Frank Emilio Flynn - Vibraphone, Marimba (#A3,A5,B2,B5)

John T. Williams - Piano (#A3,A5,B2,B5)

Joe Marino - Piano (#A2,A4,B4,B6), Celeste (#A3,A5,B2,B5)

Calvin Jackson - Piano (#A6)

Joseph R. Gibbons - Guitar (#A2,A4,B4,B6)

Billy Bean - Guitar (#A6)

Fred Katz - Cello (#B5)

Ike Isaacs - Bass (#A1-A5,B1-B6)

Red Mitchell - Bass (#A6)

Specs Wright - Drums (#A1-A5,B1-B6)

Tracks:

A1. All The Things You Are {Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II} (2:25)

A2. A Shoulder To Cry On {Chuck Darwin, Paulette Girard} (3:52)

A3. Any Old Time {Artie Shaw} (3:09)

A4. Weak For The Man {Jeanne Burns} (4:08)

A5. What's New {Bob Haggart, Johnny Burke} (2:29)

A6. I Get A Kick Out Of You {Cole Porter} (2:14)

B1. [What Can I Say] After I Say {Walter Donaldson, Abe Lyman} (1:46)

B2. Without A Word Of Warning (Mack Gordon, Harry Revel} (3:19)

B3. You Are Mine {Frank Loesser} (3:26)

B4. If I Were A Bell {Ted Snyder, Sam Lewis, Joe Young} (1:54)

B5. The Night We Called It A Day {Matt Dennis, Tom Adair} (4:28)

B6. I Remember Clifford {Benny Golson, Jon Hendricks} (3:00)

Orchestra Director, Arranger - Fred Katz

Liner Notes - Burt Korall