The Stanley Sessions

• Artist: Budd Johnson
• Rating:
• Release Date: 2005
• Type: Compilation (best of), Instrumental
• Genre: Jazz

Review

Saxophonist Budd Johnson made a series of excellent recordings for producer Stanley Dance in February 1958 and June 1967. The 1958 dates (septet and quintet) featured trumpeter Charlie Shavers; the septet included trombonist Vic Dickenson and Al Sears, who blew the baritone sax instead of his customary tenor. Pianists were Ray Bryant and Bert Keyes, who also played organ. The bassist in 1958 was Joe Benjamin; the drummer was Kansas City Jo Jones. The music is outstanding. "Destination Blues" is particularly strong, with all of the horns in fine fettle. The collective energy, especially what boils up out of the quintet on "Blues by Five" is spectacular, with Benjamin and Jones each working up exhilarating solos and Charlie Shavers blowing his top in heated exchanges with Budd Johnson. The inclusion of four powerful tracks recorded in 1967 with the Earl Hines Trio transforms a superb reissue into one of the strongest entries in the entire Lone Hill Jazz catalog. Using both the tenor and soprano saxophones, Budd Johnson blew some of the best jazz of his entire career. The tenor feels especially warm and muscular, while Johnson's soprano sax invokes the great Sidney Bechet, an influence he was always proud to acknowledge. ~ arwulf arwulf, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Foggy Nights	Budd Johnson	Budd Johnson	(5:38)
Leave Room in Your Heart for Me		Budd Johnson	(7:16)
Destination Blues	Budd Johnson	Budd Johnson	(5:19)
Blues à la Mode	Budd Johnson	Budd Johnson	(7:32)
Used Blues	Budd Johnson	Budd Johnson	(7:06)
Blues by Fire	Budd Johnson	Budd Johnson	(6:10)
Louisiana [*]		Budd Johnson	(6:46)
Summertime [*]	George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin	Budd Johnson	(5:43)
Changin' the Blues [*]		Budd Johnson	(3:35)
Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone [*]		Budd Johnson	(4:48)

Credits

Budd Johnson (Sax (Soprano)), Ray Bryant (Piano), Bert Keyes (Piano), Bert Keyes (Organ), Budd Johnson (Sax (Tenor)), Al Sears (Sax (Baritone)), Joe Benjamin (Bass), Arthur Kramer (Editing), Arthur Kramer (Preparation), Jo Jones (Drums), Charlie Shavers (Trumpet), Oliver Jackson (Drums), Arthur Kramer (Liner Notes), Vic Dickenson (Trombone), Bill Pemberton (Bass), Earl Hines (Piano)