Cookin

Clifford Brown - Memorial Album (1953) {2001 BN Rudy Van Gelder Remaster}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC+CUE+LOG -> 248 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 151 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 21 Mb
© 2001 Blue Note / Capitol | 7243 5 32141 2 8 | 24-bit remaster
Jazz / Bop / Trumpet

Like swing guitarist Charlie Christian, Clifford Brown was incredibly influential for someone who died so young. The Fats Navarro-minded trumpeter was only 25 when a car accident claimed his life in 1956, but his influence remained long after his death – Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, Woody Shaw, Donald Byrd, and Carmell Jones were among the many trumpet titans who were heavily influenced by Brown. In the early to mid-'50s, Brown kept getting more and more exciting; those who found him impressive in 1952 found even more reason to be impressed in 1955. That means that when it comes to Brown's CDs, excellent doesn't necessarily mean essential. Recorded in 1953, the material on this 18-track CD isn't quite as essential as some of Brown's work with drummer Max Roach in 1954 and 1955, but is still superb.

Jimmy Smith's "Standards" album is a delightful look at the greatest of all jazz organists in a relaxed trio setting. Recorded over three sessions from 1957-59, "Standards" is not a greatest hits type collection. If anything it should be viewed as a companion piece to "Home Cookin" (much like "The Sermon" and "House Party" go together) as both CDs derive most of their material from 7/15/58 and 5/24/59 sessions. ~ Amazon

Finger Poppin' was the first album Horace Silver recorded with the most celebrated version of his quintet, which featured trumpeter Blue Mitchell, tenor saxophonist Junior Cook, bassist Gene Taylor, and (this time around) drummer Louis Hayes. It's also one of Silver's all-time classics, perfectly blending the pianist's advanced, groundbreaking hard bop style with the winning, gregarious personality conveyed in his eight original tunes. ~ AllMusic

The 1957 Horace Silver Quintet (featuring trumpeter Art Farmer and tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley) is in top form on this date, particularly on "My One and Only Love" and their famous version of "Home Cookin'." All of Silver's Blue Note quintet recordings are consistently superb and swinging and, although not essential, this is a very enjoyable set. ~ AllMusic

Alto sax master Lou Donaldson's entry to the Blue Note Artist Selects series includes a blend of originals and standards, with Hall of Fame lineups from various eras. Listening to this music, one can map the evolution of jazz in the context of his development as a musician. ~ AllAboutJazz