Wonderful R&B vocals and adventurous jazz piano are the latest releases by UK based Avid Group Records.
Consisting of Jake Carey, Zeke Carey, Paul Wilson, Johnny Carter and Earl Lewis, the Flamingos were one of the premier vocal groups, with this 1959 release mixing jazz standards like “Love Walked In” and “Begin the Beguine” with rich harmonies of the classic “I Only Have Eyes For You” and “I’m In The Mood For Love”. In 1957 The Five Satins, then consisting of Fred Parris, Al Denby, Ed Martin and Nat Mosley struck gold with an album that included the eternally romantic “I’ll Remember (In The Still Of The Night)” along with a fun “Sugar” and lush “Oh Happy Day”. Formed in 1952 at Roosevelt High, The Spaniels were made up of Pookie Hudson, Ernest Warren, Willie C Jackson, Opal Courtney Jr and Gerald Gregory, striking it rich on the street cornered serenade of “Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight” and “A Lovely Way To Spend an Evening”. The gospel turned R&B group The 5 Royals, led by Johnny Tanner and is featured on the robust “Dedicated To The One I Love” as well as “Messin’ Up” and soulful “Right Around The Corner”. Are you singing along yet?
One of the more cerebral bop pianists, Mal Waldron was a prolific artists in the 1950s. His 1957 debut on Prestige has h im with Idrees Sulieman/tp, Gigi Gryce/as, Julian Euell/b and Arthur Edghill/dr on a shadowy “Yesterdays” and sleek “Stablemates” with some warm alto by Gryce on “Transfiguration”. The same year had Waldron bringing in a young John Coltrane/ts along with Idrees Sulieman-Bill Hardman/tp, Sahib Shihab/asbs, Jackie McLean/as, Julian Euell/b and Ed Thigpen-Art Taylor/dr for a swinging “The Way You Look Tonight” and richly agonizing “Don’t Explain”. Next year found Waldron in a trio format with Addison Farmer/b and Kenny Dennis/dr for some clever originals like “Spilidium-Dow” and “Love Span” as well as a fun read of “Get Happy”. The same year Waldron teams up with a different trio of Julian Euell/b and Al Dreares/dr for a definitive read of his own “Catwalk” and brings in Jackie McLean for a rare read of his composition “Left Alone”, with Waldron digging in on “Airegin”. A forgotten pianist that still sounds fresh.