In Search of Tina Brooks
I’m preparing to record a radio show this week on Tina Brooks. I have the Mosaic boxed set, The Complete Blue Note Recordings of the Tina Brooks Quintets. Do you believe that set was released 40 years ago? It does a great job of telling his tragic life story and chronicling the music he made as a leader. In addition, I have these records he made as a sideman on the Blue Note label: Jackie’s Bag, Open Sesame, Street Singer, Shades of Redd, The Sermon, and House Party. I’m not familiar with all of the tracks on all of these records, including the Mosaic boxed set. I’m trying to do a better job of integrating the Jazz Collector Live Radio Show and Podcast with the JazzCollector.com web site. Here’s an opportunity for you to help. In your collective wisdom, what are the tracks that are “must listens” among the music I will be bringing into the studio? Thanks in advance.
Appointment in Ghana seems like a must-play to me…
His works on the Kenny Burrell “Blue Lights” albums always stood out to me.
Appointment in Ghana will be on the list. I was supposed to record the show today, but there’s a massive snow storm here in Western Mass so I was rescheduled for tomorrow, which means I am open for more suggestions. GTF — do you believe I don’t have either of the Blue Lights albums. I could never find an affordable original. I had one was that was a Liberty and one that was a blue label. When the values of those went up, I sold my copies, figuring I would eventually get original pressings, and I would never listen to the reprocessed stereos anyway. Eventually hasn’t happened yet.
I just listened to parts of my Tina Brooks Mosaic set again. I was most impressed with Brooks playing on the first two albums, Minor Move, and True Blue. Nutville and The Way You look tonight have especially good Brooks solos. Side 2 of that record has a bit too much gritty sound in the cymbals. Especially during Sonny Clark’s piano solo on Star Eyes. Some great Brooks all of side 1 of True Blue album. The title track of Back To The tracks has good Brooks and Blue Mitchell. Can’t remember Brooks best work on Freddie Hubbard’s Open Sesame. I tend to listen more to the trumpet players on the albums he is featured on! Like the nice Johnny Coles in the Mosaic set.
I have not heard the Tina Brooks Mosaic set. I am blessed with a mono first pressing of True Blue which is a wonderful album. I recently installed a mono Moving Coil cartridge on my second turntable and now enjoy these early mono pressings even more.