Joy Spring

Harold Mabern, a superior hard bop pianist, had a rare opportunity to perform a set of unaccompanied solos for this Sackville release. Recorded live from Toronto's Café des Copains and originally broadcast on the radio, Mabern performs six jazz standards (including "Joy Spring," "Pent Up House" and Wayne Shorter's "House of Jade") and a pair of bluesy originals. Although Mabern sounds most comfortable in a trio, he has always been enough of a two-handed player to play solo; he readily acknowledges the influences of Phineas Newborn and Ahmad Jamal.

Joe Pass - Joy Spring (1964) {Pacific Jazz CDP35222 rel 1995}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 256 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 102 Mb
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© 1964, 1995 Pacific Jazz / Capitol Records | 7243 8 35222 2 4
Jazz / Bop / Bebop / Guitar

Joe Pass was near the beginning of his career (after a decade of fighting drug addiction) when he recorded this live quartet session. The great guitarist was in his early prime, nine years before he started recording for Pablo. Pass is immediately recognizable on the straight-ahead bebop date and is supported by a fine rhythm section that includes pianist Mike Wofford, bassist Jim Hughart, and drummer Colin Bailey. The group stretches out on five standards (the renditions are six-and-a-half and two-and-a-half minutes apiece) but never runs out of inventive ideas. Easily recommended.