#altosax

KENNY DORHAM & JACKIE MCLEAN — INTA SOMETHIN’

Inta Somethin’ is a live album by American jazz trumpeter Kenny Dorham featuring performances recorded at The Jazz Workshop in San Francisco in 1961 and released on the Pacific Jazz label.

Reception

The Allmusic review awarded the album 4½ stars.

In a three star review in the May 10, 1962 issue of Down Beat magazine noted jazz critic John. S. Wilson stated: “The most interesting aspect of this disc is the assortment of views it give of McLean going through a phase in which he seems to be absorbing some John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy influences.”

Ernie Henry – Last Chorus

Last Chorus is a posthumous album by American jazz saxophonist Ernie Henry featuring tracks recorded in 1956 and 1957 for the Riverside label.Reception

Marion Brown – Three For Shepp

Three for Shepp is the debut album by American saxophonist Marion Brown featuring performances recorded in 1966 for the Impulse! label.

Reception

AllMusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4.5 stars stating “This is a classic Impulse! recording of the period by an overlooked master.”

Personnel: Marion Brown – alto saxophone Grachan Moncur III – trombone

Charles McPherson — Bebop Revisited! 

Bebop Revisited! is the debut album led by saxophonist Charles McPherson recorded in 1964 and released on the Prestige label.

AllMusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4.5 stras out of 5 and stated:”Bebop is the thing on this excellent outing as altoist Charles McPherson and pianist Barry Harris do their interpretations of Charlie Parker and Bud Powell. With trumpeter Carmell Jones, bassist Nelson Boyd and drummer Al “Tootie” Heath completing the quintet, the band romps through such bop classics as “Hot House,” “Nostalgia,” “Wail” and “Si Si” along with an original blues and “Embraceable You.” A previously unissued “If I Love You” is added to the CD reissue. McPherson and Jones make for a potent frontline on these spirited performances, easily recommended to fans of straightahead jazz.”

Art Farmer/Gigi Gryce- When Farmer Met Gryce

When Farmer Met Gryceis an album by trumpeter Art Farmer and saxophonist Gigi Gryce, featuring performances recorded in 1954 and 1955 and released on the Prestige label.

Reception

AllMusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4 stars and stated:”When Farmer Met Gryce features trumpeter Art Farmer, altoist Gigi Gryce and two rhythm sections with either Horace Silver or Freddie Redd on piano, Percy Heath or Addison Farmer on bass, and Kenny Clarke or Art Taylor on drums. The early hard bop music is highlighted by “Social Call” (one of Gryce’s best-known compositions), “Capri,” “A Night at Tony’s” and “Blue Concept” but all eight numbers will easily be enjoyed by straight-ahead jazz fans.”

Arthur Blythe – Illusions 

llusionsis jazz saxophonist Arthur Blythe‘s third album for the Columbia label, recorded in New York City in 1980.

Reception

From contemporary reviews, Robert Palmer placed the album at fifth place in his best of 1980 list for The New York Times, proclaiming Blythe to be a “formidable alto saxophonist” and that the funk tunes on the album “proved that substantial yet danceable jazz isn’t an impossible dream.”

From retrospective reviews, Scott Yanow of AllMusic states that “the distinctive alto of Blythe is heard in top form on six of his unusual originals … It’s recommended.”

Lou Donaldson – Blues Walk

Blues Walk is an album by American jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson, recorded on July 28, 1958 and released on Blue Note later that year.

Reception.

The AllMusic review by Steve Huey awarded the album 5 stars out of 5 and stated:”There are numerous likable records in Donaldson’s extensive catalog, but Blues Walk is the best of them all.”

Lee Konitz – Motion

Motion is an album by jazz saxophonist Lee Konitz, recorded in 1961 for Verve Records. It features drummer Elvin Jones and bassist Sonny Dallas. It is regarded by many as Konitz’s finest album.

Personnel: Lee Konitz – alto saxophone Sonny Dallas – bass Elvin Jones – drums

Reception.

The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4 stars and stated:”This very spontaneous LP (altoist Lee Konitz had never played before in a trio with bassist Sonny Dallas and drummer Elvin Jones) is quite successful and enjoyable. Konitz and his trio perform five familiar standards … The music is searching but melodic, exploratory yet accessible. This is one of Konitz’s better albums from the era.”