Doin' Gigi Gryce

Prior to this album, saxophonist Gigi Gryce had never recorded on anything but his celebrated alto. We wanted to get on tape sounds and styles that have never been associated with him, said producer Jack Lazare. So, for the first time, Gryce recorded on flute, clarinet, tenor and baritone sax- in addition to alto, playing several of these instruments in the same tune through multiple tracking. Gryce also provided his group with provocative arrangements of some well known jazz standards and some originals. The rhythm section offers strong support, with pianist Hank Jones contributing not only as pianist and composer, but also in doing much to make this challenging musical venture a successful one.

At 24 years old, Donald Byrd was already among the greatest trumpeters alive at that time. Alto saxophonist Gigi Gryce, who wrote the charts for everything heard on this disc aside from "I Remember Clifford," was an exceptionally talented arranger as well as a gifted composer. Unlike the rest of the Byrd/Gryce recordings from 1957, these have extra horns: Benny Powell's trombone, Julius Watkins' French horn, Don Butterfield's tuba, and Sahib Shihab's baritone sax. The rhythm section players were exceptionally solid: pianists Tommy Flanagan, Wade Legge; bassist Wendell Marshall; and master percussionist Art Taylor. With some of the best arrangements heard in jazz and excellent solos by Gryce, Byrd, and Flanagan, Jazz Lab makes for an excellent introduction to the hard bop catalog.

Recorded for Jubilee records in 1957 and not to be confused with the Columbia record album also titled Jazz Lab. Hank Jones is the pianist for this one, as he was for New Formulas From The Jazz Lab and contributes a original tune. Donald Byrd is featured on "Isn't It Romantic" and Gigi's feature is "Imagination".

If you want to hear how Frank Morgan sounded during his youth, the first album to purchase is the 1955 gem Introducing Frank Morgan. After that, look for Bird Calls, Vol. 2, a reissue spotlighting Morgan in 1954 and fellow alto saxophonist Gigi Gryce in 1955. The main things that the two bop sessions have in common are the presence of drummer Kenny Clarke and the influence of Charlie Parker - Morgan and Gryce were both greatly influenced by Bird's playing yet had attractive tones of their own. Morgan was only 21 when the 1954 session was recorded, and the altoist forms a sextet with tenor saxman Walter Benton and pianist Gerald Wiggins as well as three-fourths of the Modern Jazz Quartet's original pre-Connie Kay lineup: Clarke, vibist Milt Jackson, and bassist Percy Heath…

One of Art Farmer's pivotal mid 50s sides - recorded in the company of altoist Gigi Gryce, a great player and a budding young arranger who helped Farmer really formulate the best side of his sound! The tracks are lyrically modern - but still have a nice dose of soul in them - a wonderful blend that really sets the stage for the move that Art was making away from earlier trumpeters in jazz - into that hip territory that was neither too cool, nor too overblown - and which would almost be known as "Farmer-like" in years to come! The album features Gryce and Farmer in 2 different groups - one with Horace Silver on piano, Percy Heath on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums - the other with Freddie Redd on piano, Addison Farmer on bass, and Art Taylor on drums.

One of Art Farmer's pivotal mid 50s sides - recorded in the company of altoist Gigi Gryce, a great player and a budding young arranger who helped Farmer really formulate the best side of his sound! The tracks are lyrically modern - but still have a nice dose of soul in them - a wonderful blend that really sets the stage for the move that Art was making away from earlier trumpeters in jazz - into that hip territory that was neither too cool, nor too overblown - and which would almost be known as "Farmer-like" in years to come! The album features Gryce and Farmer in 2 different groups - one with Horace Silver on piano, Percy Heath on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums - the other with Freddie Redd on piano, Addison Farmer on bass, and Art Taylor on drums.