Sonny Clark, piano – Cool Struttin’ (with Art Farmer, trumpet;
Jackie McLean, alto sax; Paul Chambers, bass; Philly Joe Jones, drums)
Blue Note1588; Classic Records ****:
There’s
no date on this album but the rear jacket notes say High Fidelity,
seeming to indicate it is mono (a Rudy Van Gelder recording effort).
However, on the front cover is pasted a big gold sticker saying
“STEREO.” I remember really loving those albums with such a sticker
that come out in 1959, 1960 and perhaps a bit later. So that helps date
the session. It also exhibits the rather widely-separated two-channel
emphasis of those earlier stereo recordings.
Jackie McLean, alto sax; Paul Chambers, bass; Philly Joe Jones, drums)
Blue Note1588; Classic Records ****:
There’s
no date on this album but the rear jacket notes say High Fidelity,
seeming to indicate it is mono (a Rudy Van Gelder recording effort).
However, on the front cover is pasted a big gold sticker saying
“STEREO.” I remember really loving those albums with such a sticker
that come out in 1959, 1960 and perhaps a bit later. So that helps date
the session. It also exhibits the rather widely-separated two-channel
emphasis of those earlier stereo recordings.
Among Clark’s influences were Tatum, Waller, Erroll Garner, Bud Powell,
George Shearing and Thelonious Monk. He selected his sidemen for this
recording date and the smoothly musical style of Art Farmer makes an
interesting contrast with the sometimes squawking tone of saxist
McLean. There are only four tracks, so there’s plenty of time for some
soloing in depth. The first side is a pair of Clark’s own tunes,
including the title tune which was inspired by his wife. Nat Hentoff
wrote the original liner notes.
Tracks: Cool Struttin,’ Blue Minor, Sippin’ at Bells, Deep Night.
