If you’re a hard bop fan, you’re gonna go crazy over this Brit, Tubby Hayes. His life and career was cut short by a heart attack and death in 1971, but he had such a heavy rep that he even sat in Ellington’s band back in the 60s. These 2 cds cover his hip 3 albums from 61-64, and you’re gonna be won over.
Tubby the Tenor from ’61 has him in NYC with Clark Terry/tp, Eddie Costa/vb, Horace Parlan/p, George Duvivier/b and Dave Bailey/d, and they sizzle through fair such as “Doxy” and “Airegin.” Hayes has a bite to his sound, and it works great on the hard hitting “Opus Ocean” as well as the warm “You’re My Everything.” In 1962, he really goes to town, joining with no less than James Moody/ts-fl and Roland Kirk/reeds along with boppers Walter Bishop/p, Sam Jones/b and Louis Hayes/dr for a sizzling “Stitt’s Tune” and a glorious “Afternoon in Paris” and a chance for some spotlights on a three song medley, with “If I Had You” being the belle of the ball. In Boston for a radio show in ’64, Hayes gets interviewed and then teams up with Ray Santisii/p, John Neves/b and Joe Cocuzzo/dr for a rollicking “Nobody Else But Me” and delicious “Sometimes Ago.” Hard bop heaven!
Fresh Sound Records