Lennie Niehaus, Vol. 1: The Quintets

• Artist: Lennie Niehaus
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1954
• Total Time: 38:28
• Type: Instrumental
• Genre: Jazz

Review

Alto saxophonist Lennie Niehaus is better known as the arranger for Clint Eastwood's films, but he has long been familiar to jazz fans as a respected bandleader, composer, arranger, and soloist. This limited-edition audiophile reissue of his first solo recordings (following stints with Stan Kenton and Shorty Rogers) is a stunner. Included is the first 10" LP he recorded with a three-saxophone front line -- in this case, with Jack Montrose (tenor), and Bob Gordon (baritone) -- and other quintet sessions with musicians including pianist Hampton Hawes, and fellow Kentonite Shelly Manne (who was responsible for Niehaus' record deal with Contemporary's Lester Koenig in the first place). The involvement of Kenton bandmembers familiar with one another lends an ease and excitement to the proceedings. These quintet sessions are West Coast jazz at its finest. Melodic tunes give plenty of air to the lyrical yet complex nature of much of the music coming from that region at the time, with no remnants of the cool jazz period. These 1954 sides stomp with swing, color, and style. Bebop is called upon for tempo and pace, while swing and hard bop are referenced as checkpoints. There is a genuine glee in Niehaus' playing on "I Can't Believe You're in Love with Me," when he trades solos with Stu Williamson, while he paces the slightly faster take on "I Remember You" until slipping into one of those long, melodically sophisticated solos of his, just when you expected another chorus. Listening to this, it's hard to believe West Coast jazz ever got a bad rap. This set sounds as fresh today as it did then. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
I Remember You	Johnny Mercer, Victor Schertzinger	Lennie Niehaus	(2:39)
Poinciana	Nat Simon, Buddy Bernier	Lennie Niehaus	(3:53)
Whose Blues?	Lennie Niehaus, Jim Hall	Lennie Niehaus	(3:24)
Prime Ribs	Lennie Niehaus	Lennie Niehaus	(3:13)
I Should Care	Axel Stordahl, Sammy Cahn, Paul Weston	Lennie Niehaus	(3:18)
Inside Out	Lennie Niehaus	Lennie Niehaus	(2:59)
I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me	Jimmy McHugh, Clarence Gaskill	Lennie Niehaus	(3:33)
You Stepped out of a Dream	Gus Kahn, Nacio Herb Brown	Lennie Niehaus	(2:43)
I'll Take Romance	Ben Oakland, Oscar Hammerstein II	Lennie Niehaus	(3:03)
Happy Times	Freddie Hubbard, Lennie Niehaus	Lennie Niehaus	(3:31)
Day by Day	Axel Stordahl, Sammy Cahn, Paul Weston	Lennie Niehaus	(3:40)
Bottoms Up	Lennie Niehaus	Lennie Niehaus	(3:14)

Credits

Lennie Niehaus (Sax (Alto)), Monty Budwig (Bass), Hampton Hawes (Piano), Red Mitchell (Bass), Stu Williamson (Trombone (Valve)), Roy DuNann (Recorder), Jack Montrose (Sax (Tenor)), Lester Koenig (Producer), Shelly Manne (Drums), Kirk Felton (Remastering), Lester Koenig (Liner Notes), John Palladino (Recorder), Stu Williamson (Trumpet), William Claxton (Cover Photo)