Junior Cook - The Place To Be

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:32
Size: 138.6 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1989
Art: Front

[ 5:02] 1. Cedar's Blues
[11:36] 2. I Should Have Known
[ 5:34] 3. Are You Real
[ 4:30] 4. She Rote
[ 9:01] 5. Gnid
[ 7:49] 6. This Is The Place To Be
[ 8:52] 7. Over The Rainbow
[ 8:04] 8. Cup Bearer

This 1988 recording is the first of three excellent recordings under Junior Cook's leadership on the Steeplechase label. This Europeon label seems to record older, lesser known jazz musicians that U.S. labels won't touch. The description "lesser known" applies to Junior as well as any description. Although he has had a long and distinguished musical career, he was eclipsed by such tenor giants as Coltrane and Rollins. He has played with Horace Silver, Cedar Walton, Blue Mitchell, and led his own groups. He died at age 58 in 1992. In the last few years of his life, he was a featured soloist in the McCoy Tyner Big Band.(If you haven't heard this band, get their recordings.)

He is a fine, swinging hard bop tenor player. If anything, he reminds me of Hank Mobley and George Coleman, who are also lesser known greats. Not bad company. The quartet features Mickey Tucker on piano and a fabulous drummer, Leroy Williams. Mickey Tucker may not be a star, but he plays brilliantly. Wayne Dockery ably holds the bass chair. This quartet swings with a joyful abandon. Although the tune selection includes lesser known originals and standards, they are delightful tunes, which this group grabs a hold of takes to the skies. ~A Jazz Lover Since 1960/Amazon

The Place To Be

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