This was pianist Ramsey
Lewis' first album; a trio set with bassist Eldee Young and drummer Redd Holt.
From their first appearance in the Chicago SRO club in the spring of 1957, the
Ramsey Lewis Trio was considered, by the public and critics, one of the
brightest jazz groups to appear in the jazz scene. Great jazzmen such as Dizzy
Gillespie called them “A gust of fresh air on the musical scene,” and Duke
Ellington said they were “A bouquet of tonal delight.” A trio with a rare
combination of stimulating music and personal magnetism, the group was in the
mold of the Modern Jazz Quartet - thoughtful, studious, exploratory, but
possessing a quietly throbbing, thoroughly captivating beat. Lewis sounds like
a cross between John Lewis and Oscar Peterson, playing melodic and lightly
boppish versions of such pieces as "Carmen," Russ Freeman's "The
Wind," "Bei Mir Bist Du Schön," Gerry Mulligan's
"Limelight" and a few originals.
Argo Records, LP-611, 1956
Recorded 12th December, 1956
Track Listing:
A1. Carmen {Georges Bizet}
(4:21)
A2. I'll Remember April {Gene
de Paul, Patricia Johnston, Don Raye} (4:03)
A3. The Wind {Russ Freeman}
(3:49)
A4. Bei Mir Bist du Schön
{Sammy Cahn, Saul Chaplin, Jacob Jacobs, Sholem Secunda} (3:08)
A5. My Funny Valentine
{Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers} (3:21)
B1. Fantasia For Drums
{Ramsey Lewis} (5:35)
B2. Dee's New Blues {El Dee
Young} (2:52)
B3. Tres {Ramsey Lewis} (4:32)
B4. Limelight {Gerry
Mulligan} (2:18)
Personnel:
Ramsey Lewis - Piano,
Keyboards
Eldee Young - Bass
Redd Holt - Drums
Ripped from 56 year old well-loved vinyl, some sound artifacts.
