Jazz for aficionados

Etta Jones, one of my favorite singers, was never married to Houston Person, although they had a very strong musical bond and friendship.

I bought "Don't Go To Strangers" in 66, and it has many personal memories, I still have that LP plus a new one.

Rok, I'm still waiting for your comments on "Soul Brothers/ Soul Meeting" with Ray Charles and Milt Jackson, as well as the Trio Trebien.

Enjoy the music.

Good comments, Rok. Agree with your assessment of the Canadian Brass recording; great brass players, but don't have the necessary feel and looseness for that music. The Oscar Brown Jr. recording is definitely a classic; I've always wondered why his recordings don't get more attention.
Brackeen does indeed play great piano; although I have always been mixed about her playing. To me, she is, in some ways, one of the most beautiful pianists, but with a not completely convincing swing feel. This live recording is a perfect example of what I mean. She plays in a gorgeous rhapsodic style and uses the keyboard almost like an orchestra with her use of dense harmonies and textures with great flow and shape, but at around 4:30 when she goes into a double time swing feel things fall apart for me; too stiff and rushed. Still, beautiful playing.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=n3mTrBHRQPA

This post is about the big boy of the saxophone family (we'll skip the bass saxophone; for now), the baritone saxophone. Pepper Adams, appropriately nicknamed "The Knife" by Stan Kenton, probably the greatest of the great baritone saxophonists. I particularly like how he uses the extreme bottom of the instrument. While it may seem an obvious thing to do, many more modern players have a tendency to play in the extreme upper range of the instrument (the tenor saxophone range), Pepper loved the bottom of the horn. Of special note on this recording ("The Master"; probably his best) is George Mraz's bass playing. What a beautiful bass player! Notice the fabulous definition and intonation of what he plays. Too often, and in part due to the instrument's fret-less nature, even the great players play with less than perfect intonation and definition, especially in up-tempos. His lines are like melodies that can be easily followed.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m-q01aPQ8J0

Ronnie Cuber is another great baritone saxophonist in a more modern bag who can be heard on many pop recordings (Steely Dan, Stuff, SNL) but who is a bebopper at heart. Some of his best work was as part of George Benson's Cookbook. A really fun record:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SLG2ssX2oto&feature=plpp

Gary Smulyan is probably the most prominent young(er) baritone saxophonist on the scene today. Member of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, he filled Pepper's shoes; and what shoes they were. A great player:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=plpp&v=lGfYkNgCshA

Now for something different. World Saxophone Qt. member Hamiett Bluiett is an acquired taste:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2UOjiIXyVNM

Frogman:

Very good Pepper Adams. I get what you said about the bass playing. I though Gomez' intonation on the Brackeen CD was good also. That's why I liked it, just didn't know how to describe it.

Is it harder to play the sax in the lower range?

I had to lol at the last note of the Pepper tune! Now on to the others.

Cheers

Well, 'The Cooker' was certainly aptly named. They were really cooking! I love stuff that moves right along. I had forgotten that george Benson was a very good Jazz player at one time. Now I will have to inflict a Benson 'review' on you all.

The sax playing was very good also. You nailed it, a FUN disc.!!

Cheers