Sam Most Archive

From the Attic of My Mind – Sam Most, flute – Xanadu/ Elemental

by Audiophile Audition | Dec 29, 2015 | Jazz CD Reviews

A 1978 session with one of the top jazz flutists around. From the Attic of My Mind – Sam Most, flute – Xanadu Master Edition 906074 (digitally remastered by Elemental Music) [6/30/15] ****: (Sam Most, flute; Kenny Barron, piano; George Mraz, bass; Warren Smith, percussion; Walter Bolden, drums) The late Most (died in 2013) really brought the flute into jazz as a solo voice, and has been a musical innovator for decades. Leonard Feather called him the first great jazz flutist. He played with Tommy Dorsey, Don Redman, Chris Connor and Paul Qunichettte, among others, and was a band member of the Buddy Rich band. He made three albums for the Xanadu label, of which this was the third. He was named by Down Beat as the New Star on Flute in 1954. Flute has been one of my personal favorite instruments in jazz, so this reissue really peaked my interest. The eight tracks on it are all originals by Most. That was the suggestion of Don Schlitten, CEO of the former Xanadu label. There are lovely ballads as well as good swingers. All of his sidemen are terrific, even though Most had not performed with them before. He had […]