Eddie Jefferson - Hipper Than Thou (1959, 1961)

Eddie Jefferson, one of the great jazz singers and an important pioneer of vocalese, is heard in peak form on this Evidence CD which reissues an Inner City LP and adds six previously unissued selections to the program. The bulk of the music is from 1959-1961, with Jefferson backed by several horns including trumpeter Howard McGhee and tenor saxophonist James Moody, and sometimes three other vocalists. There are many highlights including Jefferson's original classic versions of "Body and Soul" (a tribute to Coleman Hawkins, the "king of the saxophone") and "So What" (dedicated to Miles Davis), a remake of "Moody's Mood for Love" and vocalese adaptations of a few Lester Young and Charlie Parker solos. Most of the unissued tracks are from these sessions, but there is also "Silly Little Cynthia" from 1964 (a duet with pianist Tommy Tucker) and a meeting with guitarist Louisiana Red on 1965's "Red's New Dream." When one considers that Jefferson otherwise did not record during 1963-1967, it makes those two numbers not only enjoyable but historic. This CD is highly recommended for all jazz collections. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG. 

Le Chant Du Monde, LDJ 274 946, 1989
Recorded 1959 (2,4-12,17-18) / 1961 (1,3,13-16) in New York

Tracks:
01. So What {Miles Davis} (3:30)
02. Moody's Mood For Love {Fields, McHugh, Moody} (3:10)
03. Sister Sadie {Horace Silver} (2:44)
04. It's Only A Paper Moon {Arlen, Harburg, Rose} (3:03)
05. TD's Boogie Woogie {Pinetop Smith} (2:26)
06. Now's The Time {Charlie Parker} (3:01)
07. Body And Soul {Eyton, Green, Heyman, Sour} (3:33)
08. Workshop {Gil Fuller} (2:57)
09. Sherry {Hank Crawford} (3:04)
10. Baby Girl {Eddie Jefferson} (3:18)
11. Memphis {Eddie Jefferson} (2:52)
12. Honeysuckle Rose {Andy Razaf, Fats Waller} (2:18)
13. The Preacher [A Crazy Romance] {Horace Silver} (2:27)
14. Night Train {Forrest, Simpkins, Washington} (2:34)
15. NJR [I'm Gone] {Quincy Jones} (3:18)
16. I Got The Blues {Lester Young} (2:41)
17. Silly Little Cynthia (Eddie Jefferson} (1:57)
18. Red's New Dream (Eddie Jefferson} (4:43) 

Total Time: 52:43 

Credits:
Producer [Original] - Herb Abramson (#1-12)
Compilation Director - Jean-Louis Méchali
CD Release Coordinator - Nicole de Pretto
Photography - D.R.
Liner Notes - Jacques Denis 

#1-12 originally released as The Jazz Singer [Vocal Improvisations On Famous Jazz Solos]
Inner City Records [IC 1016] 1976 

Baby Girl

Shirley Scott - Roll 'Em: Shirley Scott Plays The Big Bands (1966) [CD]

Shirley Scott’s Roll ‘Em is interesting on several levels, the first being that you are no doubt already keenly aware of the songs Shirley is laying down here with her seventeen-piece big band, so it’s a hoot to simply sit back and listen to the tunes without the due consideration jazz-listening often requires. Secondly, there’s nothing unexpected delivered on this record, everything … the enunciation, the chords, the notes, the take, it’s all been done before, leaving Roll ’Em to simply be a breezy foray into the musical insights and sounds that are created here. Though when "Stompin' At The Savoy" washed across my listen space, I was raptured with the flanking path Scott’s organ took this song. Oddly enough, when one considers women in jazz, the first names that come to mind are usually the singers, Ella Fitzgerald or Billie Holiday, perhaps because singers are easier to spot and identify. Shirley was a lush beautiful petite and very powerful for her size and time, so it sparked my imagination that she might be taking on these songs purposely, numbers that seemed rather too large or expansive for a woman to embrace, where Scott shows the world that she’s more than capable of helming a big band, charting its course, and coming out the other side proving that she can stand toe to toe with anyone when it comes to music that is easily compared. So, while I don’t want to dismiss this outing as uninventive or not being challenging enough, it is impressive to hear Shirley create perfect flawless circles, that while not bold or majestic, hit at the heart of all that’s pure, and dare I suggest innocent, when it comes to the purest elements of sophistication. After all, a simple black dress with an understated string of pearls speaks volumes, without the need for showiness or exuberance. ~ by Jenell Kesler, discogs.com. 

Impulse! Records, AS-9119, 1972
GRP Records, GRD-147, 1994
Recorded 15th (#7-10) & 19th (#1-6) April, 1966 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 

Personnel:
========
#1-4:
Shirley Scott - Organ
Thad Jones, Joe Newman, Jimmy Nottingham, Ernie Royal, Clark Terry - Trumpet
Paul Faulise, Quentin Jackson, Melba Liston - Trombone
Tom McIntosh - Trombones
Phil Woods, Jerry Dodgion - Alto Saxophone
Bob Ashton, Jerome Richardson - Tenor Saxophone
Danny Bank - Baritone Saxophones
Attila Zoller - Guitar
George Duvivier - Bass
Grady Tate - Drums
Oliver Nelson - Conductor, Arranger 

#5-6:
Shirley Scott - Organ, Arranger (#5)
George Duvivier - Bass
Grady Tate - Drums 

#7-10:
Shirley Scott - Organ
Richard Davis - Bass
Ed Shaughnessy - Drums 

Tracks:
01. Roll 'Em {Mary Lou Williams} (4:08)
02. For Dancers Only {Don Raye, Sy Oliver, Vic Schoen} (3:43)
03. Sophisticated Swing {Mitchell Parish, Will Hudson} (2:50)
04. Sometimes I'm Happy {Grey, Caesar, Youmans} (3:53)
05. Little Brown Jug {Joseph Eastburn Winner; Arr. Shirley Scott} (3:57)
06. Stompin' At The Savoy {Razaf, Goodman, Webb, Sampson} (3:58)
07. Ain't Misbehavin' {Andy Razaf, Harry Brooks, Fats Waller} (3:31)
08. A Tisket A Tasket {Ella Fitzgerald, Van Alexander} (3:55)
09. Things Ain't What They Used To Be {Duke Ellington, Ted Persons} (5:19)
10. Tippin' In {Bobby Smith, Marty Symes} (4:33) 

Total Time: 39:54 

Credits:
Producer - Bob Thiele
Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder
Reissue Producer - Michael Cuscuna
Executive Producer - Dave Grusin, Larry Rosen 

Organist Shirley Scott focuses on swing-era tunes throughout this enjoyable album. Four songs showcase her organ accompanied by a 17-piece big band arranged by Oliver Nelson while the remaining six numbers find her jamming with a trio that also includes either George Duvivier or Richard Davis on bass and Grady Tate or Ed Shaughnessy on drums. Although nothing all that unexpected occurs, it is fun to hear an organ performing such numbers as "For Dancers Only," "Little Brown Jug" and "Stompin' At The Savoy." ~ Scott Yanow, AMG

Sometimes I'm Happy