Personnel:

Blue Mitchell, Clark Terry (tp), Julian Priester (tb), Jerome Richardson, Jimmy Heath, Pepper Adams (saxes), Tommy Flanagan, Wynton Kelly (p), Sam Jones (b), Charlie Persip (d), Harry Lookofsky (vln, concertmaster), Benny Golson, Tadd Dameron (arr)

 

When these recordings were made in early 60s, trumpeter Blue Mitchell was already a mature artist: a thoughtful musician with an individual voice, who had made a name with Horace Silvers quintet from 1958 onwards. Both Smooth as the Wind and A Sure Thing were true hallmarks in his career. Designed to show all his talents, in them he is supported by two large and fascinatingly seductive settings. The first is a summation of the tonal color, lyricism, and good taste that marked Mitchells playing up to that point. Benny Golson and Tadd Dameron wrote and conducted the skilled strings-and-brass orchestrations. While Golson provides more space for the soloist and arranges pretty little backdrops for him to play off, Dameron supplies intricate patterns of voicing and musical shifts.

 

The second album presents Mitchell in a vigorous and well-balanced set of arrangements scored and conducted by Jimmy Heath. Apart from Mitchell, one of the most melodic trumpeters of his generation, Heath (on tenor) is the other main soloist, in virile and inventive form throughout. Baritonists Pepper Adams on Blue on Blue, and Pat Patrick on Hip to It, also contribute a couple of tough, passionate solos, while Wynton Kelly is the personification of self-assurance, good taste, and unabated swing throughout.

 

TRACKLIST:

01. Smooth as the Wind (Dameron) 5:11

02. But Beautiful (Burke-Van Heusen) 3:35

03. The Best Things in Life Are Free (DeSylva-Brown-Henderson) 3:18

04. Peace (Horace Silver) 3:55

05. For Heavens Sake (Meyer-Bretton-Edwards) 3:32

06. The Nearness of You (Washington-Carmichael) 3:22

07. A Blue Time (Dameron) 4:53

08. Strollin (Silver) 3:16

09. For All We Know (Lewis-Coots) 3:21

10. Im a Fool to Want You (Herron-Sinatra-Wolf) 3:36

11. West Coast Blues (Montgomery) 5:38

12. I Cant Get Started (Duke-Gershwin) 3:45

13. Blue on Blue (Heath) 4:45

14. A Sure Thing (Kern-Gershwin) 4:30

15. Hootie Blues (McShann) 5:21

16. Hip to It (Mitchell) 4:56

17. Gone with the Wind (Wrubel-Magidson) 5:56

18. Why Do I Love You? (Kern-Hammerstein II) 5:25

 

Sources:

Tracks #1-10, from the album "Smooth as the Wind" (Riverside RS 9367)

Tracks #11-17, from the album "A Sure Thing" (Riverside RS 9414)

Track #18, from the album "The Cup Bearers" (Riverside RS-9439)

 

Personnel on Smooth as the Wind:

Blue Mitchell, Clark Terry, Bernie Glow, Burt Collins, trumpets; Britt Woodman, Julian Priester, trombones; Willie Ruff, French horn; Tommy Flanagan, piano; Tommy Williams, bass; Charlie Persip, drums. String section with Harry Lookofsky (violin), concertmaster

 

On #1,2,3,7,8 & 10 Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green, trombones and Philly Joe Jones, drums, replace Woodman, Priester and Persip.

 

Arrangements by Benny Golson (#4,9,10), and Tadd Dameron (#1,2,3,5,6,7,8)

 

Recorded at Plaza Sound Studios, New York City, December 27, 1960 (#4,5,6,8) and March 29 & 30 (#1,2,3,7,9,10), 1961

 

Personnel on A Sure Thing:

Blue Mitchell, Clark Terry, trumpets; Julius Watkins, French horn; Jerome Richardson, flute, alto sax; Jimmy Heath, tenor sax, arranger; Pepper Adams (on #13) or Pat Patrick (on #16), baritone sax; Wynton Kelly, piano; Sam Jones, bass; Albert 'Tootie' Heath, drums.

 

On #17 only Mitchell, Heath, Kelly, Jones and 'Tootie' Heath.

 

Recorded at Plaza Sound Studios, New York City, March 7 (#12,15) 8 (#13,14) & 28 (#11,16,17), 1962

 

Personnel on track #18:

Blue Mitchell, trumpet; Junior Cook, tenor sax; Cedar Walton, piano; Gene Taylor, bass; Roy Brooks, drums.

 

Recorded at Plaza Sound Studios, New York City, August 28 & 30, 1962

 

Original recordings produced by Orrin Keepnews

Recording engineer: Ray Fowler

Original cover design: Ken Deardoff

 

Produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol

 

Stereo · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered

 

Note: Track 18 is part of the Blue Mitchell LP The Cup Bearers, included on the CD Blue Mitchell & Junior Cook (FSR-789), but Why Do I Love You? was left out because it did not fit the maximum playing time of the CD..