Timeless sounds in two different genres are released by AVID Records this month
Still alive and with us, guitarist Kenny Burrell is one of the most important modern and consistent jazz guitarists. A previously hard to find 1957 session with Al Cohn/ts, Mal Waldron/p, Art Farmer/tp, Ed Thigpen/dr and Teddy Kotick/b has him gliding through originals like “Earthy” and “Dayee”. The same year has him with Tommy Flanagan/p, Doug Watkins/b, Cecil Payne/bs and Elvin Jones/dr for a swinging “Baby Don’t Cry” and “Strictly Confidential”. The last two show what he could do in concert, both from 1959. At The Five Spot, he simmers with Art Blakey/dr and Tina Brooks/ts, stretching out on “Birk’s Works” and “ Lady Be Good” while at the Village Vanguard he’s in a trio setting for a stunning set that features Richard Davis/b and Roy Haynes/dr on thrilling reads of “All Night Long” and “Well, You Needn’t”. If you don’t like this, it’s time to take up knitting.
Before he became the Godfather of Soul with his famous Apollo album, James Brown was creating his own unique sound and forming a whole new bag of sound. His 1959 debut with his first incarnation of the Famous Flames included classics “Try Me” and “Please Please Please”. The same year, his follow-up included “I Want You So Bad”, and “Why Do You Do Me”. Next year Brown brought in the talents of Bobby Bird and struck gold with “Think” and the relentless groove of “I’ll Go Crazy”. Finally, Brown stomps out “I Don’t Mind” and “Just You and Me Darling” as well as bringing in a couple bonus tracks like the steam engine rivulet of “Night Train”. Already the hardest worker in show business.