Barney Kessel
Three Classic Albums Plus
Nat Adderley
Four Classic Albums
Mel Powell
Four Classic Albums Plus,
Avid Jazz Records
By George W. Harris
Don’t think for one minute that Mosaic Records has the corner on reissues. This UK-based label puts out some unbelievably impressive and important material whose beauty is only made more important by its obscurity.
Nat Adderley is best known for having his cornet be the foil for his brother Cannonball on some classic hard bop from the late 50s through the 60s. This 2 disc collection has him leading various groups that recorded just before his most famous release Work Song. Hints of his patented gospel beat pop up here and there, but for the most part the material here emphasizes good old blue collar Bop. A ’55 session with Jerome Richardson/ts-fl, Hank Jones/p and Kenny Clarke/dr is high on the 52nd Street themes, while brother Cannonball, Horace Silver/p, Paul Chambers/b and Roy Haynes/dr deliver up a blue plate of grooves on his “Intro” album. Ernie Wilkins adds some rich arrangements on “Ivy League” which also has the Cannonball in sessin, while a brassy section closes up with Slike Hampton/tb, Laymon Jackson/tuba and a hot rhythm team of Wynton Kelly/p, Sam Jones/b and Tootie Heath/dr kick out the jams. All throughout, Adderley’s horn is as tasty as an artichoke dip.
The two cds for Barney Kessel’s albums be divided evenly into trio sessions with Shelly Manne/dr and Ray Brown/b and larger ensembles that cover music from movies and operas. Of the former, the interplay between the three on standards like “Jordu” and “Nagasaki” is simply stupendous. Kessel also does a few solo spotlights before everyone else joins in, sounding absolutely stunning on his intros to “You Go To My Head” and “Spring Is Here.” With a band that includes Art Pepper/reeds, Joe Gordon/tp and Jimmie Rowles/p, Kessel delivers a pinch hit triple on his take of tunes from the classic comedy Some Like it Hot. The music works incredibly well, with tunes like “Stairway To The Stars” melting your heart. The only caveat: why no version of the famous Tango Dance? A similar West Coast Band with Buddy Collette/fl and Victor Feldman/vibe traipse through the Carmen songbook, with a hot little takes of “Habanera” and “Toreador’s March” sounding as good as you’d hope for. This pair will make you appreciated this too often overlooked six stringer.
Speaking of overlooked. Does ANYONE remember Mel Powell?!? At one time, he was much in demand with a pair of diverse musical careers. One gig was being the swinging pianist for Benny Goodman’s band, and his Dr. Jekyll existence consisted of putting out some wildly adventurous classical music. These two discs cover his highly swinging side of the brain, though with a dash of adventure. Smallish groups that included Peanuts Hucko/cl, Ruby Braff/tp and Oscar Pettiford/b cook through Depression era standards like “Liza” and “Pennies From Heaven” during a ’55 recording. Some sophisticated harmonies creep in with a french horn and vocalist on “Firebug” and “Soon” from a 1954 session. Pau Quinichette/ts and Bobby Donaldson/dr provide a sparse and spacious environment on the cool readings of “What’s New” and “Borderline” form ’54 as well, and a ’53 date has a Basie groove with Buck Clayton/tp, Walter Page/b and Edmond Hall/cl swinging from the Daisy Chain on “S’ Wonderful” and “You’re Lucky To Me.” Intelligent music that mixes cool with hot.
Avid Jazz Records