Breakthrough Level 3

As strong as pianist Cedar Walton plays on his session, the main honors are taken by two of his sidemen. Tenor-saxophonist Hank Mobley, whose career was about to go into a complete eclipse, is in brilliant form, showing how much he had grown since his earlier days. Baritonist Charles Davis, who too often through the years has been used as merely a section player, keeps up with Mobley and engages in a particularly memorable tradeoff on the lengthy title cut. Mobley is well-showcased on "Summertime," Davis switches successfully to soprano on "Early Morning Stroll," and Walton (with the trio) somehow turns the "Theme From Love Story" into jazz.

Gene Shaw - Breakthrough (1962) {Argo–Dusty Groove DGA3015 rel 2008}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 291 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 112 Mb
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© 1962, 2008 Argo / Dusty Groove America | DGA3015
Jazz / Hard Bop / Trumpet

Originally released in 1964, Break Through is a superb, if obscure, hard bop solo debut by trumpeter Gene Shaw. Born in Detroit, Shaw is best known as a member of bassist Charles Mingus' ensemble in the late '50s. Recorded in Chicago, Break Through finds Shaw joined by tenor saxophonist Sherman Morrison, pianist James Taylor, bassist Sidney Robinson, and drummer Bernard Martin.

Yes, this is a career breakthrough in a sense, for the Don Pullen/George Adams Quartet finally got a chance to record for a major American label after several Europe-only opuses. They seemed genuinely thrilled about it, for the supercharged leadoff track "Mr. Smoothie" sure sounds like a breakthrough with its ebullient mood. While grounded in hard-swinging post-bop, soul-jazz, and the blues, Adams and Pullen use the mainstream as a base for taking off into free regions at times, Adams with his gritty, combustible tenor, Pullen his trademark piano clusters. They can also groove in a melodic yet highly charged fashion on "Song From the Old Country" and reflect yearningly in the opening bars of "A Time for Sobriety"…