Kenny Dorham – Afro-Cuban (1957)

Blue Note – BLP 1535Rec. Dates : January 30, 1955, March 29, 1955 Trumpet : Kenny DorhamBaritone Sax : Cecil PayneBass : Percy Heath, Oscar PettifordCongas : Carlos ValdésCowbell : Richie GoldbergDrums : Art BlakeyPiano : Horace SilverTenor Sax : Hank MobleyTrombone : J.J. Johnson Strictlyheadies : 02/12/2019Stream this Album Billboard : 05/20/1957Score of 73 Title is only half true, for one side of this collection

Paul Chambers Sextet – Whims of Chambers (1957)

Blue Note – BLP 1534Rec. Date : September 21, 1956 Bass : Paul ChambersDrums : Philly Joe JonesGuitar : Kenny BurrellPiano : Horace SilverTenor Sax : John ColtraneTrumpet : Donald Byrd Strictlyheadies : 02/11/2019Stream this Album Billboard : 01/26/1957Score of 77 This is only the second LP which Chambers has been the “headliner,” but his work on bass on so many albums in the

Johnny Griffin – Introducing Johnny Griffin (1957)

Blue Note – BLP 1533Rec. Date : April 17, 1956 Tenor Sax : Johnny GriffinBass : Curley RussellDrums : Max RoachPiano : Wynton Kelly Stream this AlbumStrictlyheadies : 02/10/2019 Billboard : 02/02/1957Score of 74 Griffin is a tenor man who, unhappily for East and West Coast club-goers, sticks very close to the Chicago scene. Those hearing him for the first time

Fats Navarro – The Fabulous Fats Navarro, Volume Two (1957)

Blue Note – BLP 1532Rec. Dates : September 13, 1948, October 11, 1948, August 8, 1949 Trumpet : Fats Navarro, Howard McGheeAlto Sax : Ernie HenryBass : Curley Russell, Tommy PotterBongos : Chino PozoDrums : Kenny Clarke, Roy HaynesPiano : Tadd Dameron, Milt Jackson, Bud PowellTenor Sax : Allen Eager, Wardell Gray, Sonny RollinsVibes : Milt Jackson Strictlyheadies : 02/09/2019Stream this Album Cashbox : 06/29/1957 This is a companion piece

Fats Navarro – The Fabulous Fats Navarro, Volume One (1957)

Blue Note – BLP 1531Rec. Dates : September 26, 1947, October 11, 1948, August 8, 1949 Trumpet : Fats Navarro, Howard McGheeAlto Sax : Ernie HenryBass : Nelson Boyd, Curley Russell, Tommy PotterDrums : Shadow Wilson, Kenny Clarke, Roy HaynesPiano : Tadd Dameron, Milt Jackson, Bud PowellTenor Sax : Charlie Rouse, Sonny RollinsVibes : Milt Jackson Strictlyheadies : 02/08/2019Stream this Album Billboard : 07/01/1957Score of 76 A valuable collection of Navarro performances

Jutta Hipp – With Zoot Sims (1957)

Blue Note – BLP 1530Rec. Date : July 28, 1956 Piano : Jutta HippTenor Sax : Zoot SimsBass : Ahmed Abdul-MalikDrums : Ed ThigpenTrumpet : Jerry Lloyd Strictlyheadies : 02/07/2019Stream this Album Billboard : 04/27/1957Score of 67 The competent, but derivative German pianist needs and gets name assistance from tenorman Sims, but it’s not enough at that to make this set stand

Jimmy Smith – At Club Baby Grand, Volume Two (1957)

Blue Note – BLP 1529Rec. Date : August 4, 1956 Organ : Jimmy SmithDrums : Donald BaileyGuitar : Thornel Schwartz Strictlyheadies : 02/06/2019Stream this Album Cash Box : 06/22/1957 Smith is one of the best representatives for the organ’s determined stand for jazz recognition. The 4 sides here, taken at Smith’s appearance at the “Baby Grand” in Wilmington, Del., contain

Jimmy Smith – At Club Baby Grand, Volume One (1957)

Blue Note – BLP 1528Rec. Date : August 4, 1956 Organ : Jimmy SmithDrums : Donald BaileyGuitar : Thornel Schwartz Strictlyheadies : 02/05/2019Stream this Album Down Beat : 05/16/1957Dom Cerulli : 3.5 stars If anyone is ever going to get the electric organ accepted as a working jazz instrument, it will be Smith. On this collection, recorded on the spot

Thad Jones – The Magnificent Thad Jones (1957)

Blue Note – BLP 1527Rec. Date : July 14, 1956 Trumpet : Thad JonesBass : Percy HeathDrums : Max RoachPiano : Barry HarrisTenor Sax : Billy Mitchell Strictlyheadies : 02/04/2019Stream this Album Billboard : 01/12/1957Score of 80 Since winning the 1956 Down Beat critics’ poll as best new trumpet star, Thad Jones has come to throw more and more weight around on the

Clifford Brown – Memorial Album (1956)

Blue Note – BLP 1526Rec. Dates : June 9, 1953, August 28, 1953 Trumpet : Clifford BrownAlto Sax : Lou Donaldson, Gigi GryceBass : Percy HeathDrums : Philly Joe Jones, Art BlakeyFlute : Gigi GrycePiano : Elmo Hope, John LewisTenor Sax : Charlie Rouse Strictlyheadies : 02/03/2019Stream this Album Billboard : 09/29/1956Score of 80 Two sessions cut in 1953 and issued originally on two 10-inch