MAY 31

               TAL FARLOW
          Swinging Guitar of Tal Farlow
         
                 Recording Date: 
                     May 31, 1956

                 Personnel:
                     Eddie Costa     P
                     Tal Farlow       G
                      Vinnie Burke   B











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Review by Scott Yanow
In the mid-'50s, guitarist Tal Farlow led one of his finest groups, a drumless trio with pianist Eddie Costa and bassist Vinnie Burke. The same band would record the album Tal a week or two later. With Burke contributing a constant walking bass, the interplay between Farlow and Costa is always exciting, whether they are playing unisons or trading off. This 1999 CD reissue not only has the original seven selections but "Gone With the Wind" (which was left off of the original LP due to lack of space) plus three full-length alternate takes that are basically on the same level as the masters. Among the highpoints are "Taking a Chance on Love," "Yardbird Suite," "Like Someone in Love," and Farlow's lone original, "Meteor," which utilizes the chord changes of "Confirmation." Hot bebop that is easily recommended.
 

MAY 30

            THELONIOUS MONK
               Genius of Modern Music v2       

                  WOR Studios, NYC
                     May 30, 1952
       
                 Personnel:
                     Kenny Dorham      TP
                     Lou Donaldson      AS
                     Lucky Thompson   TS
                     Thelonious Monk    P
                     Nelson Boyd          B
                     Max Roach            D







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Review by Rick Anderson
On the second volume in this two-disc series Thelonious Monk has come fully into his own as a leader. The program consists almost entirely of original compositions,Sahib Shihab's sax tone is more appropriate this time out, and the production quality is somewhat better. This disc, along with Volume 1, belongs in every jazz collection. [The CD reissue includes numerous alternate takes and features a chronological song order; thus, its program is very different from that of the LP that it duplicates in the catalog. The same is true of Volume 1.]
 

MAY 29

             HORACE SILVER
           A Prescription For The Blues 

               Recording Date:
                   May 29-30, 1997

               Personnel:
                   Randy Brecker   TP
                   Michael Brecker TS
                   Horace Silver     P
                   Ron Carter         B
                   Louis Hayes        D

                                                                                                  



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Reviewby Scott Yanow

Pianist/composer Horace Silver teams up with the Brecker Brothers (both of whom used to be in his quintet) and a veteran rhythm section of bassist Ron Carter and drummer Louis Hayes to debut nine of his originals. The funny part about Silver's music is that, no matter who he is paying tribute to (this set includes a song for Lester Young), the style always ends up sounding like Horace Silver, with no real reference to the subject matter. All of the music on this date is very much in Silver's funky hard bop tradition, in the phrasing, catchy themes, concise solos by tenor Michael and trumpeter Randy Brecker, and the pianist's distinctive and quote-filled improvisations. None of the melodies are all that memorable ("Walk On" has the best chance of catching on), so there are probably no future "hits" on this collection. But it is a joy to hear Horace Silver still playing in his prime at the age of 68.

MAY 28

                BUD POWELL

                 Time Waits

               The Amazing Bud Powell

        
                   Recording Date: 
                       May 28, 1958

                   Personnel:
                       Philly Joe Jones D
                       Sam Jones         B 
                       Bud Powell         P 

 

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Review by Scott Yanow
This set from pianist Bud Powell (which has been reissued on CD in a "complete" four-CD set) is most notable for having the debut versions of seven of Powell's compositions; most memorable are "Time Waits," "Monopoly" and especially "John's Abbey." With bassist Sam Jones and drummer Philly Joe Jones completing the trio, Powell is in surprisingly fine form throughout the enjoyable session, creating music that is far superior to his later Verve recordings.
 

MAY 27

               HAROLD VICK

               Steppin' Out!

                  Recording Date:

                      May 27, 1963

                  Personnel:

                      Blue Mitchell      TP
                      Harold Vick        TS
                      Big John Patton  O
                      Grant Green       G
                      Ben Dixon          D

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Reviewby Scott Yanow

This soul-jazz outing by tenor saxophonist Harold Vick (his recording debut as a leader) casts him in a role that was often occupied by Stanley Turrentine. Vick, with a quintet that also includes trumpeter Blue Mitchell, guitarist Grant Green, organist John Patton, and drummer Ben Dixon, performs four blues, a slightly trickier original (five of the six songs are his), plus the ballad "Laura" on this CD reissue. There are no real surprises, but no disappointments either on what would be Harold Vick's only chance to lead a Blue Note date. At 27 he was already a fine player.

MAY 26

             GRANT GREEN
       His Majesty King Funk

                Recording Date: 
                    May 26, 1965

                Personnel:
                   Candido Camero  CG 
                   Ben Dixon            D
                   Grant Green         G 
                   Harold Vick        FT,TS
                   Larry Young          O








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Review by Michael Erlewine
Don't be scared off by the His Majesty King Funk title; this is not Green's later commercial stuff. This is excellent Grant Green with Larry Young on organ, Harold Vick on sax, Ben Dixon on drums, and Candido Camero on conga — essentially a classic four-piece. And this is soul-jazz with a deep groove. His Majesty King Funk is the last of five albums Green recorded with Young. Produced by Creed Taylor, it is the only album Green did for Verve and perhaps his last real jazz album before several years of inactivity, after which he became somewhat more commercial in his approach. The album includes the standard "That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day)."
 

MAY 25

               JOHN COLTRANE

                     Olé

               Recording Date:
                   May 25, 1961

               Personnel:

                  John Coltrane    AS,SS,TS 
                  Art Davis              B 
                  Eric Dolphy           FT,AS 
                  Freddie Hubbard   TP 
                  Elvin Jones           D 
                  McCoy Tyner         P 
                  Reggie Workman   B tk3

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Review by Lindsay Planer
The complicated rhythm patterns and diverse sonic textures on Olé are evidence that John Coltrane was once again charting his own course. His sheer ability as a maverick — over and beyond his appreciable musical skills — guides works such as this to new levels, ultimately advancing the entire art form. Historically, it's worth noting that recording had already commenced — two days prior to this session — on Africa/Brass, Coltrane's debut for the burgeoning Impulse! label. The two discs complement each other, suggesting a shift in the larger scheme of Coltrane's musical motifs. The assembled musicians worked within a basic quartet setting, featuring Coltrane (soprano/tenor sax), McCoy Tyner (piano), and Elvin Jones (drums), with double-bass chores held down by Art Davis and Reggie Workman. Added to that are significant contributions and interactions with Freddie Hubbard (trumpet) and Eric Dolphy (flute and alto sax). Dolphy's contract with another record label prevented him from being properly credited on initial pressings of the album. The title track is striking in its resemblance to the Spanish influence heard on Miles Davis' Sketches of Spain. This is taken a bit further as Coltrane's combo stretches out with inspired improvisations from Dolphy, Hubbard, Tyner, and Coltrane, respectively. "Olé" likewise sports some amazing double-bass interaction. The combination of a bowed upright bass played in tandem with the same instrument that is being plucked has a sinister permeation that assuredly excited Coltrane, who was perpetually searching from outside the norms. The haunting beauty of "Aisha" stands as one of the finest collaborative efforts between Tyner — the song's author — and Coltrane. The solos from Hubbard, Dolphy, and an uncredited Tyner gleam from within the context of a single facet in a multi-dimensional jewel. The CD reissue also includes an extra track cut during the Olé sessions. "To Her Ladyship" is likewise on the seven-volume Heavyweight Champion: The Complete Atlantic Recordings box set.