Having Fun With Jazz Records
I had fun with my records last night. I had about an hour and a half where I had nothing to do, nothing I wanted to read, and I decided I would just sit and listen to two records fully rapt, eyes closed, no distractions. But what to play? I just went to the shelves and the first record that caught my eye was Mating Call, Tadd Dameron and John Coltrane, Prestige 7070. Why Mating Call? I’m not sure. It’s not a record I’ve listened to often and it’s not on my regular play list. When I want to listen to Coltrane, there are other records that grab my eye. Perhaps I haven’t listened to Mating Call in 10 years, so I wanted to check it out again. And I did. What a great record. This is actually, I think, the first record on which Coltrane was the sole featured horn player. His playing is great, not nearly as adventurous as it would become, but far more confident than on Miles, Prestige 7014. He had either come a long way in the period between those recordings, or the format gave him more room to showcase his gifts. As for Tadd Dameron, as a pianist he’s definitely a great composer. Bud Powell he isn’t. But the tunes on the album are great, he comps very well for Coltrane and he was certainly quite brilliant in many ways, one of which was recognizing the genius of Coltrane. As a jazz collector, of course, I spent some time fondling and caressing the album cover and noticed something interesting on the back of the cover. There are pictures of five records, each of which in some way featured either Coltrane or Dameron. Without looking, how about we take some guesses at the identities of those five records? Hint: All have catalog numbers prior to Prestige 7070. I will post the answers either later today or sometime tomorrow, depending upon how many guesses we get and whether someone gives away the answer, which has certainly happened before.
The second record I played was one of my all-time favorites, Sonny Rollins Plus Four, Prestige 7038. I put this one on because I hadn’t actually sat and listened to it in a while, and I wanted to listen to something that I knew was great. And, boy, is this great. Rollins and Clifford Brown play off each other so incredibly well, it’s as if they could read each other’s minds. Clifford, in particular, is in staggering form, each phrase fresh and compelling. I would daresay that of all the horn players of that particular era, he was perhaps the most consistently vibrant and brilliant and technically adept in his expressing his ideas and in constructing solos. So I listened to the album with a big smile on my face and occasionally I would laugh out loud at the absolute amazing-ness of it all. I think when I did a Top 5 Desert Albums list a few years ago, this one was on it. No need to change that.
As I said, I had fun with my records last night. Maybe I’ll make another date for tonight.
Ah I recently won a Sonny Rollins Plus Four off of e-bay, but had to return it due to groove wear so the hunt it one again. Great album indeed.
Is the plus four generally a noisy pressing ?
I have also had issues with this title!
I am often gazing at my iPad while I listen to records – especially my “new arrivals.” It’s almost as if I just want to “get it over with” and get the record on my shelves. I really need to take a step back…I’d rather listen to one record a night with that kind of concentration than use a handful of LPs as background noise.
just a blind guess, although Mating Call is within 2 metres from where I am sitting:
Dameron – Fontainebleau
Tenor Madness
Informal Jazz – Elmo Hope
Jackie McLean – 4 5 and 6
Mobley’s Message
I wish I had such luck! I had a free hour last night to listen and stared at the collection for 20 minutes going back and forth. Nothing was jumping out at me and when I finally picked one to spin, it didn’t do anything for me and it was time to retire. Better luck tonight!
Adamski: Rollins + Four is definitely not a noisy pressing.
I think Rudolf’s choices are good, except I would guess Miles (7014) instead of 4 5 and 6.
I have two copies of Sonny plus Four and both sound perfect to my ears.
I could not resist taking Mating Call out of the cupboard. Joe L’s guess regarding 7014 is correct. I have a score of 6 on 10. Will not say more.
Mating Call will land on my turntable in a few seconds.
joe, looking to sell one? 🙂
Rudolf — I’m impressed with your guesses. Better than I would have done, I think. Not sure I would have thought of Tenor Madness, but of course that is one of the correct answers. Between you and Joe, seems there are five correct. Mobley’s Message and 4,5 and 6 are not.
Rudolf- thanks
I have a Plus 4 copy with Reid Miles cover and it sounds great. Not great and open the way Saxophone Colossus or maybe Work Time sounds but the mono mix is extremely stong, violent and in your face type of sound. Or is it just my copy who knows.
This is truly great session. To me it sounds like everything was just perfect that day. Music on this record sounds so natural. It feels like everything is done without any effort and still what comes out is just pure magic!
Gregory – sorry, one is less-than-perfect! Still fine for our most vintage TT, but probably not worth your time. The other (nice) copy is a gem that will never leave our collection.
Is it the Clifford Brown Memorial? Wasn’t Dameron on one side of the record? That is a wild shot in the dark, but the only other LP I can think of. We love Brownie, so that cover is always stuck in my mind.
Joe L — Indeed. Between you and Rudolf we have brilliance in our midst.
As always, Rudolf leads the way, and we try to help.
Joe L: modesty is your trade mark.
Sonny + 4 is definitely up there on my list as well Al. I am a huge Brownie fan as well. I have 3 pristine copies, one original, one with the 2nd cover design and a heavy vinyl pressing on UK Esquire-fortunatelyly they kept the original cover design on this one. No noise issue all 3