Personnel:
Idrees Sulieman, Art Farmer (tp), Gene Ammons, Paul Quinichette (ts), Jackie McLean, John Coltrane (as), Pepper Adams (bs), Jerome Richardson (fl), Mal Waldron, Duke Jordan (p), Doug Watkins, Addison Farmer (b), Art Taylor (d), Ray Barretto (perc)
The three albums included in this set come from two straightforward blowing sessions played by two outstanding all-star groups of jazzmen, under the leadership of muscular tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons. The organizing force behind these sessions was Mal Waldron, responsible for seven originals and the unpretentious charts on both datessimple, uncomplicated vehicles on which the players happily take flight.
On Blue Gene the horns complement each other in terms of style and tonal balance, with trumpeter Idrees Sulieman in bitingly good form and Pepper Adams contributing some tearaway baritone solos. The Waldron-Watkins-Taylor rhythm section, with Ray Barretto on congas, is strong and reliable. Full of soul, both Groove Blues and The Big Sound come from the same date, with much good blowing by Adams, Jerome Richardson adding his customary unhurried taste on flute, a pungent Paul Quinichette on tenor, and a self-confidently gutsy John Coltrane playing alto in his tenor style. Waldrons excellent and unobtrusive comping and soloing, propelled by Joyner and Taylors rhythm work, are other positives. And Ammons is as strong and sure of himself as ever, giving pleasure with his uncluttered, heated playing and sure sense of swing.
TRACKLIST:
CD 1
01. Blue Gene (Mal Waldron) 13:54
02. Scamperin' (Mal Waldron) 8:46
03. Blue Greens n Beans (Mal Waldron) 9:01
04. Hip Tip (Mal Waldron) 8:55
05. Ammon Joy (Mal Waldron) 13:16
06. Groove Blues (Gene Ammons) 9:32
07. The Real McCoy Mal Waldron) 8:32
CD 2
01. That's All (Brandt-Haymes-Otis-Owens) 13:57
02. It Might As Well Be Spring (Rogers-Hammerstein) 11:33
03. Cheek To Cheek (Irving Berlin) 14:12
04. Jug Handle (Mal Waldron) 10:10
05. Blue Hymn (Gene Ammons) 12:37
06. Can't We Be Friends? (James-Swift) 12:54
Sources:
CD 1 - Tracks #1-4, from the album "Blue Gene" (Prestige PRLP 7146)
CD 1 - Tracks #5, 6 & CD 2 #2, 4 from the album "Groove Blues" (Prestige PRLP 7201)
CD 1 - Tracks #7 & CD 2 #1, 3, 5 from the album "The Big Sound" (Prestige PRLP 7132)
CD 2 - Tracks #6 from from the album "The Happy Blues" (Prestige PRLP 7039)
Personnel on CD 1, tracks #1-4:
Idrees Sulieman (tp), Gene Ammons (ts), Pepper Adams (bs), Mal Waldron (p), Doug Watkins (b), Art Taylor (d) Ray Barretto (congas)
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, N.J., May 2, 1958
Personnel on CD 1, tracks #5-7:
Jerome Richardson (fl); John Coltrane (as); Gene Ammons, Paul Quinichette (ts); Pepper Adams (bs); Mal Waldron (p, arr), George Joyner (b); Arthur Taylor (d)
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, January 3, 1958
Personnel on CD 2, tracks #1-5:
Jerome Richardson (fl, out #2), John Coltrane (as, out #1,3,4,5), Gene Ammons (ts), Pepper Adams (bs, out #2,3,4,5), Mal Waldron (p, arr), George Joyner (b), Arthur Taylor (d)
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, January 3, 1958
Personnel on CD 2, track #6:
Art Farmer (tp), Jackie McLean (as), Gene Ammons (ts), Duke Jordan (p), Addison Farmer (b), Art Taylor (d), Candido Camero (conga)
Recorded in Hackensack, NJ, April 23, 1956
Original recordings supervised by Bob Weinstock
Recording engineer: Rudy Van Gelder
Original art design & photos by Don Schlitten, Esmond Edwards, Tom Hannan
This CD release produced by Jordi Pujol
Stereo / Hi Fidelity · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered
Note:
Track 6 on CD 2, Can't We Be Friends? from the album The Happy Blues, has been added here as a bonus track because it didn't fit the maximum running time of FSR-797, which includes the remainder of the album.