WALTER BENTON QUINTET

OUT OF THIS WORLD

Reference: FSRCD 1658

Walter Benton (1930-2000) was a Los Angeles tenor saxophonist who came to prominence in 1954 when he recorded with the Clifford Brown All Stars. From that point on, except for few jazz dates, he worked mainly in Latin bands he was a member of Perez Prados orchestra between 1955 and 1957. After that he returned to L.A. until 1960, when he moved to New York and joined Max Roachs group.

This album, his only date as a leader, was recorded that same year. A successful, unaffected blowing session, it demonstrated that he had reached full maturity as a player, with a style influenced by Charlie Parker, but owing a debt to an earlier lineage from Coleman Hawkins, a trait especially evident in his sound. Playing with typical fluency, drive and imagination, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard contributes much to the success of the album, as does pianist Wynton Kelly, an impeccable combination of soul and taste as part of one of the stellar rhythm sections of the era, with bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb completing the Miles Davis quintets famed engine room. The perfect rhythm section does not suffer when Tootie Heath replaces Cobb on three performances. Walter Benton went back to Los Angeles in 1961, but sadly did not do any more albums like this.

Tracklisting:

01. Out of this World (Arlen-Mercer) 5:40

02. Walters Altar (Walter Benton) 8:21

03. Iris (Walter Benton) 5:24

04. Night Movement (Walter Benton) 2:38

05. A Blues Mood (Walter Benton) 7:27

06. Azil (Walter Benton) 4:31

07. Lover Man (Davis-Sherman-Ramirez) 8:43

Originally issued in 1961 as Jazzland JLP 928S

Personnel on all tracks: Freddie Hubbard (trumpet, except on #3,4 & 7), Walter Benton (tenor sax), Wynton Kelly (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums) or Albert Tootie Heath (on #3,4 & 7).

Recorded New York City, September 19 & 21 (# 3,4 & 7), 1960

Original recordings produced by Orrin Keepnews

Recording engineer: Ray Fowler

Cover designed by Ken Deardoff

Cover photo: Don Silverstein

Produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol.

24-Bit Digitally Remastered