Two iconic legends in their fields get a second look from UK-based AVID
One of the most identifiable jazz artists, Jimmy Reed, hit the ground running with his 1959 debut. Teamed with Earl Phillips/dr, Milton Rector/b, Morris Wilkerson/dr and Eddie Taylor/g, Reed plays harmonica, and guitar as he wails through Chicago blues classics like “You Got Me Dizzy” and “Ain’t That Lovin’ You Baby”. The misnamed “Live” album with Willie Dixon/b, Lonnie Brooks-Willaim Bates=Phil UIpchurch/g, Mary Reed/voc and Earl Phillips/dr, included the classics ‘Bright Lights, Big City” and “Baby What You Want Me To Do?” The compilation of “Greatest Hits” and singles include a rivieting read of “Hush Hush”, “You Got Me Baby” and “Honest I Do”. The consistently high level of music here makes it impossible to determine what is “greatest” and what is a “hit”. Timeless.
By the time of these early 1960s albums, Nat “King” Cole had transformed from a singing jazz p ianist to the most important pop and vocalist. Teamed with Dave Cavanaugh’s orchestra, Cole croons through romantic beauties like “Dedicated To You” and “The Best Thing For You”. Supported by Ralph Carmichael’s orchestra, Cole is in nostalgic form on ”The Touch Of Your Lips” and “I Remember You.” Cole returns a bit to a jazz mode teamed with pianist George Shearing and they bring out the best in each other on “September Song”, “Pick Yourself Up” and “Serenata”. Cole hit the jackpot in the pop field with “Ramblin Rose” and never looked back on his jazz roots, focusing on pieces like “Skip To My Lou”, but I’d listen to Cole read through the want ads.