UK-based Avid Records finds things that you may not even know existed! Here are some 2 cd sets that include things even Sherlock Holmes would’ve had trouble discovering…
Ted Curson, who made his name with Charles Mingus’ band with Eric Dolphy before going on his own. These sessions from 1961-62 have the usually hard left leaning 
horn man in a very centered atmosphere. Horn of Plenty from 61 includes Mingus alumni Danny Richmond and Eric Dolphy/as-fl along with Jimmy Garrison/b, Bill Barron/ts, and Kenny Drew for some clever takes on while Curson is quite lyrical “Things We Did Last Summer” and digs deep on “Mr. Teddy” and “Nosruc Waltz.” Curson serves as a sideman for Barron along with Garrison and Kenny Barron on a feisty “Blast Off” and exotic “Oriental Impression.” Curson is in fine form in a ’62 quartet /quintet session with a Montego Joe adding flavor on “Fire Down Below” and “Falling in Love with Love.” A concert gig in Canada has an advanced hard bop team with Al Doctor’s alto sax and everyone stretching out on “Straight Ice” and a snappy “Quicksand.” Unjustly overlooked.
Total Guilty Pleasure-Slim Gaillard was a rhythm guitarist and vocalist who, along with bassist Slam Stewart, created a niche with the original “jive” music, which was called at the time “Voote” music. Terms like “a-rooney” or “a-reeny” were part of the hip vocab, and on these tunes from 45s, 10” lps and who knows what else, you get the most fun that jazz ever achieved or aspired to. Guests here range from swingers Vic Dickenson, Dick Hyman, Buddy Tate and Ben Webster and beboppers like Charlie Parker (who delivers an incredibly bluesy solo on this outing), Howard McGhee and Dizzy Gillespie. Infectious material such as “Vout Orenee” and “Slim’s Boogie” get under your skin, and even Diana Krall came under the spell of “The Groove Juice Symphony” which includes “Hit That Jive Jack” and “Flat Foot Floogie.” He’s also able to go straight (as possible) on “My Blue Heaven” and “How High The Moon,” but you’ll want to memorize the “words” to “Yip Roc Heresy” , “Potato Chips” and get the feel of “Laughing in Rhythm” and bounce them around at your next party. Guaranteed!
If it hadn’t been for John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon would’ve been considered the most influential post hard bop tenor player around. These albums from 55-60 catch him right after his latest drug rehab, and just before he joined up with Blue Note Records. His tone is as big as the Grand Canyon, and sounds as hip as a hippo here. The Hollywood session from ’55 has him with studio studs Carl Perkins/p, Leroy Vinnegar/b, Chuck Thompson/dr and Jimmy Robinson/tp and he fills up the room on takes of “Cry Me A River” “I Should Care,”and “Tenderly.” He bops till he drops again in LA with Kenny Drew/p, larry Marable/dr and Vinnegar on a snappy “Daddy Plays the Horn” and “Confirmation.” As a sideman for drummer Stan Levey in ’55, he mixes it up with Conte Candoli/tp, Frank Rosolino/tb Lou Levy/p and Vinnegar and he melts the room down on “Tune Up” and an upbeat “Day In, Day Out.” In 1960, he fronts a sextet that delivers a macho “Resurgence” and snazzy “Affair In Havana.” This guy had the tone today’s wimps dream about.
Shirley Scott made a name for herself behind the Hammond B3, being a bit more melodic and less extroverted than contemporaries like Jimmy Smith. The 1958 Great Scott session with George Duvivier/b and Arthur Edgehill/dr is more gentlemanly than bluesy, sounding more like music for a baseball game than juke joint. She mixes things up by switching to the piano for a handful of times on 1960’s Like Cozy which adds a bit of variety, but you still walk away feeling she’s more of a supporter for someone than a leader. Low and behold, your prayers are answered on Hip Soul from 1961 which benefits GREATLY from the smoky tenor sax of Stanley Turrentine who simmers like a steak on “By Myself” and “Trane’s Blues.” The return to a trio format with Roy Brooks/dr and Earl May/b on Happy Talk emphasizes show tunes such as “My Romance” and “Where or When” that are easy on the ears and light on the feet.
Avid Records