Bennie Green Mosaic Select Complete Blue Note Recordings 1958 - 1962

Trombonist Bennie Green's Blue Note albums were almost completely overlooked until this Mosaic Select compilation appeared in 2003. The first session, originally issued as Back on the Scene, features Charlie Rouse joining Green in the front line. Green's up-tempo "Bennie Plays the Blues" is the best blowing vehicle, while he and Rouse both contribute lyrical solos in Melba Liston's "Melba's Mood." Pianist Gildo Mahones wrote three of the six tracks recorded for Walkin' & Talkin', with Eddy Williams taking Rouse's place. The overall session isn't up to Green's Blue Note debut, but his snappy blues "Walkin' and Talkin'" contains some of his hottest playing within this boxed set. Williams is also on hand for the ten selections first released in Japan as The 45 Sessions with pianist Sonny Clark, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Jerry Segal. The solos are consistently hot and the quintet never wraps things in a perfunctory manner as one would expect with recordings made for jukeboxes. All of the instrumentals rate high praise, especially the loping "On the Street Where You Live" and the leader's "Ain't Nothin' But the Blues." The addition of singer Babs Gonzales on the last three cuts mar some otherwise excellent performances. Tenor saxophonists Gene Ammons and Billy Root are on hand for the session which produced Soul Stirrin'. While the material on this date is uneven, Green's interpretation of "That's All" is very satisfying. Unfortunately, Gonzales appears for two more numbers. The last five songs come from a date led by tenor saxophonist Ike Quebec (eventually issued as Congo Lament), adding Stanley Turrentine, Milt Hinton, and Art Blakey to join Green and Clark. Green's exotic "Congo Lament" and Turrentine's upbeat "Cue's Pill" are impressive.
Review: Ken Dryden
http://www.allmusic.com/album/mosaic-select-bennie-green-r641454 

Disc One

1. I Love You (A)  6:02 (Cole Porter)

2. Melba’s Mood (A)  5:33 (Melba Liston)

3. Just Friends (A)  6:59 (S. Lewis-J. Klenner)

4. You’re Mine You (A)  5:15 (J. Green-E. Heyman)

5. Bennie Plays The Blues (A)  8:24 (Bennie Green)

6. Green Street (A)  5:08 (Melba Liston)

7. The Shouter (D)  4:57 (Gildo Mahones)

8. Green Leaves (D)  5:43 (Gildo Mahones)

9. This Love Of Mine (D)  6:45 (Parker-Sanicola-Sinatra)

10. Walkin’ And Talkin’ (D)  8:57 (Bennie Green)

11. All I Do Is Dream Of You (D)  5:32 (A. Freed-N.H. Brown)

12. Hoppin’ Johns (D)  5:29 (Gildo Mahones)

Disc Two

1. It’s Groovy (C)  3:41 (unknown)

2. On The Street Where You Live (C)  5:50 (A. Lerner-F. Loewe)

3. Can’t We Be Friends (C)  5:32 (P.James-K.Swift)

4. Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues (C)  5:13 (Bennie Green)

5. Bye Bye Blackbird (C)  5:24 (R. Henderson-M. Dixon)

6. Minor Revelation (C)  5:17 (Harold Ousley)

7. Why Do I Love You (C)  5:58 (J. Kern-O. Hammerstein)

8. Encore (stereo LP take) (C)  4:16 (Babs Gonzales)

9. Encore (mono 45 take) (C)  4:29 (Babs Gonzales)

10. Soul Stirrin' (mono take) (B)  6:44 (Babs Gonzales)

Disc Three

1. Soul Stirrin’ (B)  6:49 (Babs Gonzales)

2. We Wanna Cook (B)  6:38 (Bennie Green)

3. That’s All (B)  6:25 (B. Haymes-A. Brandt)

4. Lullaby Of The Doomed (B)  6:00 (Babs Gonzales)

5. B.G. Mambo (B)  8:15 (Bennie Green)

6. Black Pearl (B)  5:45 (Billy Graham)

7. See See Rider (E)  8:59 (Ma Rainey)

8. Congo Lament (E)  6:50 (Bennie Green)

9. Que's Pill (E)  5:37 (Stanley Turrrentine)

10. B.G.'s Groove Two (E)  6:12 (Bennie Green)

11. I. Q. Shuffle (E)  9:43  (Ike Quebec)

Bennie Green, Charlie Rouse, Gildo Mahones, Eddie Williams, Sonny Clark, Paul Chambers, Jerry Segal, Babs Gonzales, Gene Ammons, Billy Root, Ike Quebec, Stanley Turrentine, Milt Hinton, Art Blakey.

Wynton Kelly Trio/Sextet - Kelly Blue (1960)

Originally cut for Riverside, this set mostly features the influential pianist Wynton Kelly in a trio with his fellow rhythm section mates from the Miles Davis bands, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb. "Kelly Blue" and "Keep It Moving" add cornetist Nat Adderley, flutist Bobby Jaspar and the tenor of Benny Golson to the band for some variety. The CD reissue augments the program with a previously unreleased "Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me" and the alternate take of "Keep It Moving." Kelly was renowned as an accompanist, but as he shows on a set including three of his originals and four familiar standards (including "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise" and "Willow Weep for Me"), he was also a strong bop-based soloist too. A fine example of his talents.

Review by Scott Yanow

http://www.allmusic.com/album/kelly-blue-r142046

1. Kelly Blue

2. Softly, As In The Morning Sunrise

3. Do Nothing Until You Hear From Me

4. On Green Dolphin Street

5. Willow Weep For Me

6. Keep It Moving (take 4)

7. Keep It Moving (take 3) Bonus track

8. Old Clothes

Wynton Kelly (p) Nat Adderley (tp) Benny Golson (ts) Bobby Jaspar (fl) 

Paul Chambers (b)

Jimmy Cobb (d)

Kenny Drew Trio (1956)

Kenny Drew, with the assistance of bassist Paul Chambers (whose bowed solos are always welcome) and drummer Philly Joe Jones, explores six standards and two of his originals. Although Drew would have to move to Europe in the early '60s in order to get the recognition he deserved, it is obvious (in hindsight) from this enjoyable date that he was already a major improviser.

Review by Scott Yanow

http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-kenny-drew-trio-r68916

1. Caravan

2. Come Rain Or Come Shine

3. Ruby, My Dear

4. Weird-O

5. Take A Chance On Love

6. When You Wish Upon A Star

7. Blues For Nica

8. It's Only A Paper Moon

Kenny Drew (p) Paul Chambers (b) Philly Joe Jones (d)

Kai Winding & J.J. Johnson - The Great Kai & J.J. (1960)

1.This Could Be The Start Of Something

2. Georgia On My Mind

3. Blue Monk

4. Judy

5. Alone Together

6. Side By Side

7. I Concentrate On You

8. Theme From Picnic

9. Trixie

10. Goin, Going, Gone

11. Just For A Thrill

Kai Winding (tb) J.J. Johnson (tb) Bill Evans (p) Paul Chambers (b) Tommy Williams (b)

Roy Haynes (d) Art Taylor (d)

Bill Evans - Green Dolphin Street (1959)

Personnel:

Bill Evans, piano

Paul Chambers, bass

Philly Joe Jones, drums

Tracks:

01  You And the Night And The Music - 7:24

02  My Heart Stood Still - 5:25

03  Green Dolphin Street - 8:12

04  How Am I To Know? - 6:22

05  Woody'N You (take 1) - 4:28

06  Woody'N You (take 2) - 4:13

07  Loose Bloose - 5:36 

MP3