Jimmy Smith – At The Organ, Volume One (1958)

Blue Note – BLP 1551Rec. Date : February 12, 1957 Organ : Jimmy SmithAlto Sax : Lou DonaldsonDrums : Art BlakeyGuitar : Kenny Burrell Strictlyheadies : 03/03/2019Stream this Album Billboard : 02/17/1958Score of 3 stars In a program of two standards and two originals investigated at length, organist Smith reiterates his ability to make the organ a functional, jazz instrument. Possessed of

Hank Mobley Quintet – Hank Mobley Quintet (1957)

Blue Note – BLP 1550Rec. Date : March 8, 1957 Tenor Sax : Hank MobleyBass : Doug WatkinsDrums : Art BlakeyPiano : Horace SilverTrumpet : Art Farmer Strictlyheadies : 03/02/2019Stream this Album Billboard : 08/26/1957Score of 73 Mobley‘s unit, in tradition of Jazz Messengers, generates a good deal of excitement. Material is in staccato, boppish vein, has brittle quality, but is

Cliff Jordan / John Gilmore – Blowing In From Chicago (1957)

Blue Note – BLP 1549Rec. Date : March 3, 1957 Tenor Sax : Clifford Jordan, John GilmoreBass : Curley RussellDrums : Art BlakeyPiano : Horace Silver Strictlyheadies : 02/26/2019Stream this Album Billboard : 07/15/1957New Jazz Talent An impressive debut by Chicago tenorists Jordan and Gilmore, who, in the tradition of Sonny Rollins, Sonny Stitt, etc., play with “hard” sound and sharply rhythmic attack to good results.

Jimmy Smith – A Date With Jimmy Smith, Volume Two (1957)

Blue Note – BLP 1548Rec. Dates : February 11, 1957, February 12, 1957 Organ : Jimmy SmithAlto Sax : Lou DonaldsonDrums : Art BlakeyGuitar : Eddie McFaddenTenor Sax : Hank MobleyTrumpet : Donald Byrd Strictlyheadies : 02/25/2019Stream this Album Billboard : 12/02/1957Score of 77 A relaxed blowing session with plenty of room for participants H. Mobley, L. Donaldson, D. Byrd, etc., to spread out. Only

Jimmy Smith – A Date With Jimmy Smith, Volume One (1957)

Blue Note – BLP 1547Rec. Dates : February 11, 1957, February 13, 1957 Organ : Jimmy SmithAlto Sax : Lou DonaldsonDrums : Art Blakey, Donald BaileyGuitar : Eddie McFaddenTenor Sax : Hank MobleyTrumpet : Donald Byrd Strictlyheadies : 02/24/2019Stream this Album Billboard : 07/15/1957 First of a series of LPs built around organist Jimmy Smith and featuring top artists from Blue note roster – D. Byrd, H.

Hank Mobley – And His All Stars (1957)

Blue Note – BLP 1544Rec. Date : January 13, 1957 Tenor Sax : Hank MobleyBass : Doug WatkinsDrums : Art BlakeyPiano : Horace SilverVibes : Milt Jackson Strictlyheadies : 02/21/2019Stream this Album Billboard : 04/29/1957Score of 76 An oft-times compelling, rhythmic program that derives its distinction from solos by the facile Milt Jackson, H. Silver and Mobley, who is evolving into one of the most

Lou Donaldson – Quartet Quintet Sextet (1957)

Blue Note – BLP 1537Rec. Dates : June 20, 1952, November 19, 1952, August 22, 1954 Alto Sax : Lou DonaldsonBass : Gene Ramey, Percy HeathDrums : Arthur Taylor, Art BlakeyPiano : Horace Silver, Elmo HopeTrombone : Matthew GeeTrumpet : Blue Mitchell, Kenny Dorham Strictlyheadies : 02/14/2019Stream this Album Billboard : 04/27/1957Score of 74 Donaldson, one of the less-touted Charlie Parker followers, is one of the best, from

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

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