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

J.R. Monterose – J.R. Monterose (1957)

Blue Note – BLP 1536Rec. Date : October 21, 1956 Tenor Sax : J.R. MonteroseBass : Wilbur WareDrums : Philly Joe JonesPiano : Horace SilverTrumpet : Ira Sullivan Strictlyheadies : 02/13/2019Stream this Album Billboard : 03/09/1957Score of 71 J.R. Monterose (not to be confused with another tenor-man, Jack Montrose) here gets his first LP showcase as leader. For the date he picked a

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