Gene Ammons – Blue Gene (1959)

Prestige – PRLP 7146Rec. Date : May 2, 1958 Tenor Sax : Gene AmmonsBaritone Sax : Pepper AdamsBass : Doug WatkinsCongas : Ray BarrettoDrums : Arthur TaylorPiano : Mal WaldronTrumpet : Idrees Suileman Listening to Prestige : #274Stream this Album   MetronomeBill Coss : August, 1959 Mal wrote all the lines and, as is most often

Gene Ammons – The Big Sound (1958)

Prestige – PRLP 7132Rec. Date : January 3, 1958 Tenor Sax : Gene Ammons, Paul QuinichetteAlto Sax : John ColtraneArranger : Mal WaldronBaritone Sax : Pepper AdamsBass : Jamil NasserDrums : Art TaylorFlute : Jerome RichardsonPiano : Mal Waldron Listening to Prestige : #262Stream this Album   Billboard : 04/28/1958Three stars The “Big Sound” it certainly

Frank Wess – Wheelin’ & Dealin’ (1958)

Prestige – PRLP 7131Rec. Date : September 20, 1957 Flute : Frank WessBass : Doug WatkinsDrums : Art TaylorPiano : Mal WaldronTenor Sax : John Coltrane, Paul Quinichette, Frank Wess Listening to Prestige : #254Stream this Album   Billboard : 04/07/1958Three stars A swingin’ four-set album in which all of the principals are featured to advantage.

Charles Mingus – The Moods of Mingus (1955)

Savoy – MG 15050Rec. Date : October 31, 1954 Stream this Album Bass : Charles MingusAlto Sax : John LaPortaBaritone Sax : Teo Macero, George BarrowClarinet : John LaPortaDrums : Rudy NicholsPiano : Mal WaldronTenor Sax : Teo Macero, George Barrow   MetronomeBill Coss : April, 1955LP Rating: B+ This LP, the best Mingus has

Prestige LP 7119

Kenny Burrell / Jimmy Raney – 2 Guitars (1958)

Prestige – PRLP 7119Rec. Date : March 5, 1957 Guitar : Kenny Burrell, Jimmy RaneyAlto Sax : Jackie McLeanBass : Doug WatkinsDrums : Art TaylorPiano : Mal WaldronTrumpet : Donald Byrd Listening to Prestige : #213Stream this Album Billboard : 02/10/1958Three stars Raney and Burrell, two of the more productive modern guitarists, are showcased very well here. Both display ample technical equipment and the

Prestige All-Stars – After Hours (1957)

Prestige – PRLP 7118Rec. Date : June 21, 1957 Bass : Paul ChambersDrums : Art TaylorFlute : Frank WessGuitar : Kenny BurrellPiano : Mal WaldronTenor Sax : Frank WessTrumpet : Thad Jones Listening to Prestige : #243Stream this Album (Youtube only) Billboard : 12/30/1957Score of 78 A blues set in feeling, and ofttimes in form, that is most notable for the solo contributions

Phil Woods / Gene Quill / Sahib Shihab / Hal Stein – Four Altos (1957)

Prestige – PRLP 7116Rec. Date : February 9, 1957 Alto Sax : Phil Woods, Gene Quill,Sahib Shihab, Hal SteinBass : Tommy PotterDrums : Louis HayesPiano : Mal Waldron Listening to Prestige : #208Stream this Album Billboard : 12/30/1957Score of 80 An uninhibited, blowing session by four “Parker-oriented” altoists that exudes more than its share of heat, and allows for extended improvisations. All

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