Zoot Sims – Quartets (1956)

Prestige – PRLP 7026Rec. Dates : September 16, 1950, August 14, 1951 Tenor Sax : Zoot SimsBass : Curly Russell, Clyde LombardiDrums : Don Lamond, Art BlakeyPiano : John Lewis, Harry Biss Listening to Prestige : #34, #47Album is Not Streamable San Francisco ExaminerC.H. Garrigues : 10/14/1956 … A remastering of two sessions played in the early 50s, which together exemplify the turn-around which

Sonny Stitt – Sonny Stitt with Bud Powell and J.J. Johnson (1956)

Prestige – PRLP 7024Rec. Dates : October 17, 1949, December 11, 1949, January 26, 1950 Tenor Sax : Sonny StittBass : Nelson Boyd, Curly RussellDrums : Max RoachPiano : John Lewis, Bud PowellTrombone : J.J. Johnson Listening to Prestige: #8, #17, #20Stream this Album Billboard : 06/30/1956Score of 75 A re-issue of four selections Stitt made with Jay Jay Johnson in late 1949; Afternoon in Paris, Elora, Blue Mode, and Teapot – plus all

J.J. Johnson / Kai Winding / Bennie Green – Trombone By Three (1956)

Prestige – PRLP 7023Rec. Dates : May 26, 1949, August 23, 1949, October 5, 1951 Trombone : J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding, Bennie GreenBaritone Sax : Gerry Mulligan, Rudy WilliamsBass : Leonard Gaskin, Curley Russell, Tommy PotterDrums : Max Roach, Roy Haynes, Art BlakeyPiano : John Lewis, George Wallington, Teddy BrannonTenor Sax : Sonny Rollins, Brew Moore, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Big Nick NicholasTrumpet : Kenny Dorham Listening to Prestige : #8, #14, #50Stream this Album Billboard : 04/07/1956Score

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.

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

Art Blakey – A Night At Birdland, Volume Two (1956)

Blue Note – BLP 1522Rec. Date : February 21, 1954 Drums : Art BlakeyAlto Sax : Lou DonaldsonAnnouncer : Pee Wee MarquetteBass : Curly RussellPiano : Horace SilverTrumpet : Clifford Brown Strictlyheadies : 01/30/2019Stream this Album Billboard : 01/05/1957Score of 81 Tremendous modern “hard bop” session cut at the jazz clue during working hours in 1954. Line-up is constructed much like Blakey‘s current

Art Blakey – A Night At Birdland, Volume One (1956)

Blue Note – BLP 1521Rec. Date : February 21, 1954 Drums : Art BlakeyAlto Sax : Lou DonaldsonAnnouncer : Pee Wee MarquetteBass : Curly RussellPiano : Horace SilverTrumpet : Clifford Brown Strictlyheadies : 01/29/2019Stream this Album Billboard : 09/01/1956Score of 78 Re-issue of material formerly on 10-inch, and worthy inventory for all ships with modernist clientele. The prophetic label once again has

Horace Silver – Horace Silver Trio and Art Blakey – Sabú (1957)

Blue Note – BLP 1520Rec. Dates : October 9, 1952, October 20, 1952, November 23, 1953 Piano : Horace SilverBass : Gene Ramey, Curly Russell, Percy HeathDrums : Art Blakey, Sabú Martínez Strictlyheadies : 01/28/2019Stream this Album Billboard : 01/19/1957Score of 77 Re-issue of material previously available on Blue Note 10-inch LPs Nos BLP 5018 and BLP 5034. The silver trio sides represent the beginning