VINYL REVIVAL…Howard McGhee: Maggie’s Back In Town

The continued renaissance of reissued vinyl by Craft Recordings brings out its latest release in the comeback record from bebop trumpeter Howard McGhee. This 1961 session has  McGhee returning to his former glory and style with a team of Angelenos Shelly Manne/dr, Leroy Vinnegar/g and Phineas Newborn/p mixing jazz standards with material from both the leader himself and Teddy Edwards, who although is not on the album has his presence felt with his hip “Sunset Eyes” and bopping title tune. McGhee’s own blues “Demon Chase” shows that he still had the chops while “Willow Weep For Me” and “Summertime” reflect glorious lyricism. This was when mainstream jazz had a high tide, when bebop was still hopping. Check out this forgotten giant.

www.craftrecordings.com

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