Art Blakey – Holiday for Skins, Volume 2 (1959)

Blue Note – BLP 4005Rec. Date : 11/09/1958 Drums : Art Blakey, Art Taylor, Philly Joe JonesBass : Wendell MarshallBongos/Congas : Sabú Martinez, Ray Barretto, Conguito Vincente, Victor Gonzales, Julio MartinezMaracas : Andy DelannoyPiano : Ray BryantTimbales : Fred PaganiTrumpet : Donald Byrd Strictlyheadies : July 5, 2019Stream this Album Down Beat : 08/20/1959John A. Tynan : 2.5 stars Well now… For the benefit of

Art Blakey – Holiday for Skins, Volume 1 (1959)

Blue Note – BLP 4004Rec. Date : 11/09/1958 Drums : Art Blakey, Art Taylor, Philly Joe JonesBass : Wendell MarshallBongos/Congas : Sabú Martinez, Ray Barretto, Conguito Vincente, Victor Gonzales, Julio MartinezMaracas : Andy DelannoyPiano : Ray BryantTimbales : Fred PaganiTrumpet : Donald Byrd Strictlyheadies : July 4, 2019Stream this Album Cashbox : 07/04/1959Jazz Pick of the Week Take three jazz drummers (Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Art Taylor),

Jackie McLean / John Jenkins – Alto Madness (1958)

Prestige – PRLP 7114Rec. Date : May 3, 1957 Alto Sax : Jackie McLean, John JenkinsBass : Doug WatkinsDrums : Art TaylorPiano : Wade Legge Listening to Prestige : #232Stream this Album Billboard : 02/10/1958Two stars A blowing session of sporting altoists J. Mclean and John Jenkins, both bearing the stamp of Charlie Parker a little too blatantly. Of the two, McLean shows more individuality in

Red Garland – Groovy (1957)

Prestige – PRLP 7113Rec. Dates : December 14, 1956, May 24, 1957, August 9, 1957 Piano : Red GarlandBass : Paul ChambersDrums : Art Taylor Listening to Prestige : #198 & #240 & #247Stream this Album Billboard : 12/30/1957Score of 79 Pianist Garland in a stimulating brace of performances with superb rhythmic support from Art Taylor, drums; and the surging Paul Chambers on bass. Tho there are

Idrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 Tenors (1957)

Prestige – PRLP 7112Rec. Date : March 22, 1957 Bass : Paul ChambersDrums : Art TaylorGuitar : Kenny BurrellPiano : Mal WaldronTenor Sax : John Coltrane, Bobby JasparTrumpet : Idrees Sulieman, Webster Young Listening to Prestige : #218Stream this Album Billboard : 12/16/1957Score of 72 The set contains four lengthy tracks, providing well-executed solo and group work. Often-used “challenge” idea points up the similarity

Mal Waldron – Mal/2 (1957)

Prestige – PRLP 7111Rec. Dates : April 19, 1957, May 17, 1957 Piano : Mal WaldronAlto Sax : Jackie McLean, Sahib ShihabBass : Julian EuellDrums : Art Taylor, Ed ThigpenTenor Sax : John ColtraneTrumpet : Bill Hardman, Idrees Sulieman Listening to Prestige : #225 & #237Stream this Album Billboard : 12/16/1957Score of 71 Waldron’s fleet, concise style of piano is highly reminiscent of Bud Powell. While Waldron and

Gene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi Fi (1957)

Prestige – PRLP 7110Rec. Date : April 12, 1957 Tenor Sax : Gene AmmonsAlto Sax : Jackie McLeanBass : Paul ChambersDrums : Art TaylorGuitar : Kenny BurrellPiano : Mal WaldronTrumpet : Idrees Sulieman Listening to Prestige : #222Stream this Album Billboard : 12/16/1957Score of 75 This is one of the better sets by Ammons for the label. Highlight is an a-tempo expression of Pennies From Heaven by

J.J. Johnson / Kai Winding – The Great Kai & J.J. (1961)

Impulse! – A-1Rec. Date : November 2, 1960, November 4, 1960, November 9, 1960Stream this Album Trombone : J.J. Johnson, Kai WindingBass : Paul Chambers, Tommy WilliamsDrums : Roy Haynes, Art TaylorPiano : Bill Evans Cashbox : 02/25/1961 Am-Par unveils its new Impulse jazz line with the wonderful reuniting of the popular trombone duo of a few years ago. If billing means

Jackie McLean – Makin’ the Changes (1960)

New Jazz – NJLP 8231Rec. Dates : February 15, 1957, August 30, 1957Stream this Album Alto Sax, Tenor Sax : Jackie McLeanBass : Arthur Phipps, Paul ChambersDrums : Art Taylor, Louis HayesPiano : Mal Waldron, Gil CogginsTrombone : Curtis FullerTrumpet : Webster Young Cashbox : 06/25/1960 McLean’s emergence as a major new alto voice is marked by heaving recording activity, of which this session

Cecil Payne – Cecil Payne (1957)

Signal – S-1203Rec Dates : May 19, 1956, May 22, 1956Stream this Album (YT only) Baritone Sax : Cecil PayneBass : Tommy PotterDrums : Art TaylorPiano : Duke JordanTrumpet : Kenny Dorham   AudioCharles A. Robertson : September, 1957 When Cecil Payne was a youngster in Brooklyn, he wanted to emulate Lester Young on the tenor saxophone. But he started out on the alto sax