1957

• Artist: Red Rodney
• Rating:
• Release Date: April 14, 1998
• Total Time: 38:43
• Genre: Jazz

Review

As the CD title implies, these sessions featuring trumpeter Red Rodney were taped in 1957, and listening to them is like discovering a long lost treasure. On the first date, his supporting cast includes tenor saxophonist Ira Sullivan, pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Oscar Pettiford, and drummer Philly Joe Jones. Neither Rodney nor Sullivan run out of ideas within their extended solos during "Star Eyes." A soft very effective treatment of the ballad "You Better Go Now" is next, followed by "Stella by Starlight" at a crisp medium tempo. The second session was recorded just two days later, with Elvin Jones taking over the drums. Sullivan switches to trumpet to join the leader (Sullivan played trumpet prior to teaching himself tenor sax) on "Red Arrow," a high energy bop original by Rodney that repeatedly incorporates licks from "Turkey in the Straw." Pettiford's tasty bass is more prominent in Rodney's snappy "Box 2000." The bassist contributed the Latin-flavored "Ubas," which was dedicated to conga player Sabu Martinez (who is not present on this recording); without its Latin rhythm, the piece would sound more like an up-tempo spiritual. This somewhat obscure CD is well worth acquiring. ~ Ken Dryden, Rovi

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