Thad Jones Mel Lewis

One doesn't automatically think of big bands when remembering late-'60s jazz, though big bands like the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra continued to make stimulating recordings. Central Park North, recorded and released in 1969, testifies that one could be a big band and progressive at the same time. Flügelhornist Jones and percussionist Lewis are joined by a large cast of players, including tenor Joe Farrell, trombonist Jimmy Knepper, and pianist Roland Hanna. The music runs the gauntlet from funky soul-jazz to more gentle traditional work, sometimes within the same piece. Jones' "Tow Away Zone" begins like a rather typical late-'60s composition (horns and organ with a soulful groove), but as the individual players cut loose with excellent solo work – built within a multi-layered arrangement – the piece takes on a character of its own.

Thad Jones & Mel Lewis - The Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Quartet (1977) {A&M CD-0830 rel 1989 remastered}
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© 1977, 1989 Artists House / Fantasy Records / A&M Records | CD-0830
Jazz / Hard Bop / Post Bop / Cornet / Piano Trio

This is one of the finest small-group sessions of cornetist Thad Jones' career. With strong and very alert assistance from drummer Mel Lewis (his co-leader in their celebrated big band), pianist Harold Danko, and bassist Rufus Reid, Jones plays at his peak on six standards, two of which were issued for the initial time on this CD reissue. Four of the songs are at least nine minutes long (two are over 15 minutes), yet Jones never loses his momentum. The musicians constantly surprise each other and there are many spontaneous moments during this often brilliant outing.

Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra With Rhoda Scott (a.k.a. Rhoda Scott in New York with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra) is a 1976 big band jazz album recorded by jazz organist Rhoda Scott with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra and released on the Barclay (France) record label.

The second recording by the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra is the equal of the first. Most memorable here are "Little Pixie," Fats Waller's "Willow Tree," and particularly, the spirited "Don't Git Sassy." With arrangements by Thad Jones, Bob Brookmeyer and Garnett Brown, and an all-star cast that includes trumpeters Snooky Young, Marvin Stamm and Richard Gene Williams, valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer, the reeds of Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion, Joe Farrell, Eddie Daniels and Pepper Adams (all of whom solo), pianist Roland Hanna and bassist Richard Davis, among others, this was one of the great big bands.

This CD reissues one of Joe Williams' finest recordings. Accompanied by the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, the singer is heard at the peak of his powers. The big band primarily functions as an ensemble (Snooky Young gets off some good blasts on "Nobody Knows the Way I Feel This Morning"), but the inventive Thad Jones arrangements ensure that his illustrious sidemen have plenty to play. Many of the selections (half of which have been in the singer's repertoire ever since) are given definitive treatment on this set (particularly a humorous "Evil Man Blues," "Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You," and "Smack Dab in the Middle"), and Williams scats at his best on "It Don't Mean a Thing."

Thad Jones & Mel Lewis - Potpourri (1974) {Columbia 4714782 rel 1995}
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© 1974, 1995 Columbia / Sony Music | 471478 2
Jazz / Hard Bop / Modern Big Band

A magnificent big band record from 1974 on the old, long-gone Philadelphia International label, which was distributed by CBS Records. The band included a who's-who of jazz stars of the day then including Pepper Adams, Billy Harper, Cecil Bridgewater, Jimmy Knepper (of Mingus fame), Jon Faddis, and Sir Roland Hanna, among others, who ALL shine beautifully on eight gorgeous charts, four of which were composed by Thad,himself. There are also two Stevie Wonder tunes, "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing", and "Living For The City". DOWNBEAT magazine readers in its 1974 poll had voted this band the #1 Big Jazz Band, and with very good reason.

Swedish singer Monica Zetterlund is backed by the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra on the Inner City LP It Only Happens Every Time. Her phrasing is precise, but her vocal style doesn't always blend well with the big band. Jones' "It Only Happens Every Time" comes off under-rehearsed, as if the chart is still in a state of flux, a similar problem that occurs during "The Second Time Around." Better is the swinging treatment of "Long Daddy Green" and the tearjerker ballad "He Was Too Good to Me." Sadly, none of the instrumental soloists is identified, though Pepper Adams shines on baritone sax in two compositions by the late Lars Gullin, one of Europe's best players of the instrument; this was also Adams' final recording with the band.