Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1962-04-27
THE WEEK IN
RECORDS
BY Albert Anderson
Brown Boosts Big Band Music

retute the aforementioned conLenClon
that big band music is dead" is
Ray Browns latest LIP on the
Verve label, featuring a cast of
all-star musicians.
Titled Ray Brown With the ALL
Star Big Band" the album was a
collaboration of Brown, jazzdom
top bassist, and the talented ex-
Basic Sideman, Ernie Wilkins.
Ernie arranged the music for the
10 tunes featured.
Personnel on the disk, in addi-
ton to Brown, on cello and bass,
include alto virtuoso Julian Can
nonbal" Adderley; Budd Johnson,
Earl Warren, Yuseff Lateef, Jer-
ONE Richardson and Seldom Powell,
on reeds; Ernie Royal, Joe New
man, Nat Adderley and Clark
Terry, on trumpets; Jimmy Cleve-
land, Melba Liston, Britt Woodman
and Paul Faulise, on trombones;
Oslo Johnson, on drums; Sam
Jones, on bass, and Tommy Flan-
agan and Hank Jones, on piano.
Wilkins conducted the session. The
Adderley brothers and Jones ap-
peared through the courtesy of
Riverside Records.
In addition to being one Of the
most pleasant recordings of big
band music, this LIP is unmatched
for its almost perfect balance. 1t
features top solos, an imaginative
fare, and fine orchestration.
For instance, the Adderleys and
Brown are both delightful and in
MIGRATING on the work Song"
the opening tune, and on the clos
ing entry, "Baubles, Bangles and
Beads" while the orchestra as a
whole is outstanding throughout.
In fact, each man has plenty to
say on the disk, but the individual
performances are skillfully integ-
rated for the best possible "utiliza-
ton" of the compositions.
There isn't a dull moment on
this record, and certainly no flaws
are detected. Here, in this review
er's opinion, is unrefutable evid-
ence also that big band music can
be delightfully."- projected in the
modern vein. THIS LIP IS TOPS
Other releases reviewed are:
BOSS Tenors in Orbit" (Verve)
Personnel: Gene Ammons and
Sonny Stitt on tenor saxophonei
Donald Patterson, organ; William
James, drums; Paul Weeden, quit
ar. Tunes: Long Ago, And Far
Away" "Walkin," 'Why Was
Born?," John Browns Body"
and Bye, Bye Blackbird."
This is a blowing session from
start to finish The session is
reminiscent of the days when Am
mons and Stitt (who is equally at
home on alto and tenor) con-
Quoted their battle royal on stage
in Chicago The two are feat
ured playing six standards (foui
on Side u that are made all the
more delightful by the extent Of
their enthusiasm and the range OF
their imagination Solos are
the feature of this LIP, and the
contrasting styles of Ammons anc
the enterprising Stitt make fol
delightful listening A BIG
BUY.
"LEAPIN AND LOPIN r" (Blue
Note LIP 4O9D. Sonny Clark anc
quintet. Personnel: Tommy Tur'
rentine, trumpet; Charlie Rouse
Ike Quebec, tenor sax; Clark, pi'
ano; Butch Warren, bass; Billy
Higgins, drums.
Tunes: "Somethin' Special,
Deep In A Dream" Melody Fol
c." Side 2, Eric Walks" WOO
doo," Midnight Mambo."
If you like good progressive
jazz, you'll like this LIP, which
features good jazz balance plus
outstanding individual perform
ances 1t is perhaps Clarks
best effort as a group leader
1t spotlights six tunes in various
jazz dimensions Midnight
Mambo" is the top tune, as it pro-
vides the artists with plenty Of
playing room, but "Leapin' ;
and Deep In A Dream" a pen
sive tune played in deep harmony
are also delightful AN EN-