Gene Ammons & Sonny Stitt - Boss Tenors

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 79:49
Size: 184.8 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1961/2012
Art: Front

[4:22] 1. Red Sails In The Sunset
[5:13] 2. My Foolish Heart
[6:34] 3. Autumn Leaves
[6:31] 4. There Is No Greater Love
[3:19] 5. A Mess
[8:48] 6. Blues Up And Down
[2:37] 7. Headin' West
[4:38] 8. A Pair Of Red Pants
[4:17] 9. But Not For Me
[3:56] 10. New Blues Up And Down
[7:12] 11. The One Before This
[4:33] 12. We'll Be Together Again
[9:39] 13. Counter Clockwise
[3:54] 14. Time On My Hands
[4:11] 15. Autumn Leaves (Alternate Take)

This encounter between tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt (who doubles on tenor and alto) is a true classic. Ammons and Stitt teamed together many times over a three-decade period, including co-leading a band during 1950-1952, but Boss Tenors is arguably their finest recording. Backed by pianist John Houston, bassist Buster Williams, and drummer George Brown, Ammons and Stitt battle it out on "There Is No Greater Love," Ammons' "The One Before This," "Autumn Leaves," "Blues Up and Down," and Stitt's "Counter Clockwise." This is competitive bebop at its best, with Stitt and Ammons proving to be equal matches. Essential music for all jazz collections. ~Scott Yanow

Boss Tenors

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Gene Ammons - Makes It Happen

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 28:34
Size: 65.4 MB
Styles: Soul jazz
Year: 1950/1967/2005
Art: Front

[2:45] 1. My Foolish Heart
[2:57] 2. Prelude To A Kiss
[2:41] 3. Goodbye
[2:50] 4. Can Anyone Explain
[3:06] 5. It's You Or No One
[2:33] 6. Pennies From Heaven
[2:45] 7. Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe
[2:56] 8. You Go To My Head
[3:08] 9. Once In A While
[2:48] 10. It's The Talk Of The Town

This 1967 Cadet release repackages the 1958 Chess date Soulful Saxophone, itself a session originally recorded in 1950 in the months prior to Gene Ammons' landmark stint with the Prestige label--and while the provocative cover suggests a collection of lush romantic ballads, Gene Ammons Makes It Happen is instead deep and dark, underscored by the tenorist's potently soulful sound. A melancholy reading of "My Foolish Heart" was Ammons' first hit and sets the tone for the remainder of the material, which boasts an affecting, late-night atmosphere--the music absolutely marinates in echo, transcending the waking world into the dreamscape. ~Jason Ankeny

Makes It Happen

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Gene Ammons - Nice An' Cool

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1961
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:56
Size: 91,8 MB
Art: Front

(7:10)  1. Till There Was You
(4:38)  2. Answer Me, My Love
(4:02)  3. Willow Weep for Me
(4:59)  4. Little Girl Blue
(7:43)  5. Something I Dreamed Last Night
(3:05)  6. Something Wonderful
(4:22)  7. I Remember You
(3:52)  8. Someone to Watch over Me

A 1961 set of standards heavy on the ballads, Nice 'n Cool is prime Gene Ammons. In front of a sympathetic piano-bass-drums trio (Richard Wyands, Doug Watkins, and the great J.C. Heard, respectively), Ammons' brilliantly soulful tenor saxophone really stretches out on the familiar melodies, but the relatively concise arrangements (all of the eight tracks are between three and eight minutes, with most hovering around the five-minute mark) don't allow him to wander too far afield as he occasionally does on less structured sessions. Nice 'n Cool is first and foremost a mood album, with the unity of sound more important than the individual performances, but Ammons particularly shines on the extended opener, a tender, restrained version of The Music Man's "Til There Was You" that sidesteps the mawkishness of many interpretations in favor of a dignified grace. The backing trio is excellent throughout, although Wyands' too-brief solo passages do make the listener wish that the pianist had been given more of a chance to shine. ~ Stewart Mason https://www.allmusic.com/album/nice-an-cool-mw0000868722      

Personnel:  Gene Ammons - tenor saxophone;  Richard Wyands - piano;  Doug Watkins - bass;  J.C. Heard - drums

Nice An' Cool

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Gene Ammons - Dig Him!

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1961
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:16
Size: 94,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:23)  1. Red Sails In The Sunset
(4:20)  2. But Not For Me
(4:39)  3. A Pair Of Red Pants
(4:36)  4. We'll Be Together Again
(3:19)  5. A Mess
(3:57)  6. New Blues Up And Down
(5:14)  7. My Foolish Heart
(2:39)  8. Water Jug
(4:11)  9. Autumn Leaves
(3:53) 10. Time On My Hands

Gene Ammons, who had a huge and immediately recognizable tone on tenor, was a very flexible player who could play bebop with the best (always battling his friend Sonny Stitt to a tie) yet was an influence on the R&B world. Some of his ballad renditions became hits and, despite two unfortunate interruptions in his career, Ammons remained a popular attraction for 25 years. Son of the great boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons (who was nicknamed "Jug") left Chicago at age 18 to work with King Kolax's band. He originally came to fame as a key soloist with Billy Eckstine's orchestra during 1944-1947, trading off with Dexter Gordon on the famous Eckstine record Blowing the Blues Away. Other than a notable stint with Woody Herman's Third Herd in 1949 and an attempt at co-leading a two tenor group in the early '50s with Sonny Stitt, Ammons worked as a single throughout his career, recording frequently (most notably for Prestige) in settings ranging from quartets and organ combos to all-star jam sessions. Drug problems kept him in prison during much of 1958-1960 and, due to a particularly stiff sentence, 1962-1969. When Ammons returned to the scene in 1969, he opened up his style a bit, including some of the emotional cries of the avant-garde while utilizing funky rhythm sections, but he was still able to battle Sonny Stitt on his own terms. Ironically the last song that he ever recorded (just a short time before he was diagnosed with terminal cancer) was "Goodbye." ~ Scott Yanow https://itunes.apple.com/mt/album/dig-him/id609645816

Personnel:  Sonny Stitt alto - saxophone, tenor saxophone;  Gene Ammons - tenor saxophone;  John Houston - piano;  Charles Williams - bass;  George Brown - drums.

Dig Him!

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Gene Ammons - Fine And Mellow

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:00
Size: 167,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:25)  1. Lady Sings the Blues
(5:59)  2. Play Me
(5:29)  3. Ben
(3:07)  4. Fly Me
(4:25)  5. Fuzz
(5:03)  6. Fine And Mellow
(3:34)  7. Strange Fruit
(7:47)  8. Big Bad Jug
(4:04)  9. God Bless The Child
(7:43) 10. Tin Shack Out Back
(6:47) 11. Lady Mama
(4:09) 12. I Can't Help Myself
(4:52) 13. Lucille
(4:30) 14. Papa Was A Rolling Stone

Gene “Jug” Ammons was a sucker for finely wrought pop songs. He was also unapologetic slave to melody, putting his sturdy saxophone into the service of countless hummable themes. But his improvisations were never slavish and even with material of papish pedigree he always seemed to find something worthwhile to say. Perfect case in point is this new Prestige two-fer, which combines material from a pair of early '70s platters, Got My Own and Big Bad Jug. The first set has a lounge vibe so viscous you can virtually smell the Aqua Velva aftershave, Pall Mall smoke and Mohair fibers in the air. How a string section crammed into Rudy Van Gelder’s studio alongside Jug’s core sextet is a mystery, and it’s more than likely that the label overdubbed the orchestrations after the fact. Largely superfluous to the action, they also thankfully don’t get in the way.

The ensemble line-up includes some impressive talent in the personages of Jones, Beck, Carter and Muhammad, but the ringers are the presence of heavy production and predilection for plugging in. The songbook is just as capricious; balancing a trio of Billie Holiday numbers (the film eponymous with the first track was a big hit contemporaneous to the session) with pop and funk fare. If the idea of Jug tackling Neil Diamond’s “Play Me” and the Michael Jackson signature “Ben” signals skeptical impulses, don’t be alarmed. Ammons treats each tune with sober respect and the gravity in his playing accentuates the sometimes hidden strengths in the song craft. And while he rarely strays far from the melody, the muscle and surety in his phrasings further dispel any traces of triteness from the tracks. The oddest of the clutch is the reading of “Strange Fruit,” a duet with Jones’ electric piano that finds Jug in an uncustomary somber mood, sketching breathy lines across a watercolor wash of keyboard hues and trailing a luminous studio echo.

The second session enlists a different, more streamlined studio band with only Carter returning for the party. Phillips’ organ and, on “Tin Shack Out Back,” electric piano plant the mood firmly in funk and soul territory. Parker’s wah-wah slathered guitar adds fleshy chordal support to Jug’s wailing lead, and the band sounds off here as purely and proudly a product of their era. The leader’s closing unaccompanied cadenza is a killer. Even the rendering of “God Bless the Child” is laced with a palpable backbeat. Carter revels in the weighty sponginess of his amplified strings while Cobham carves out propulsive, if at times simplistic, rhythms. A laidback attitude seems to be the primary sentiment of the moment. Closing with a trance-inducing version of the Temps’ “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” Jug soars over a stuttering bass-heavy groove that steamrolls everything in its path. Check your prejudices at the coat rack and this set will likely fulfill the same purpose it did back in the day. An enjoyable diversion devoid of pretense by a man who earned the right to play and do things the way he wanted to. (An added extra: the new liner notes scribed by Ted Panken, which contain some insightful anecdotes voiced by none other than fellow Chicagoan Von Freeman.) ~ Derek Taylor  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/fine-and-mellow-gene-ammons-prestige-records-review-by-derek-taylor.php

Personnel: Gene Ammons- tenor saxophone; Ernie Hayes- organ; Hank Jones- electric piano; Joe Beck- guitar; Ron Carter- acoustic & electric bass; Idris Muhammad- drums; Mickey Roker- drums; Sonny Phillips- electric piano, organ; Maynard Parker- guitar; Billy Cobham- drums.

Fine And Mellow

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Gene Ammons - Up Tight!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:04
Size: 171.9 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1961/1994
Art: Front

[6:25] 1. The Breeze And I
[6:06] 2. Carbow
[5:03] 3. Moonglow
[6:01] 4. I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over
[4:47] 5. I'm Beginning To See The Light
[8:17] 6. Jug's Blue Blues
[4:13] 7. Lester Leaps In
[5:57] 8. The Five O'clock Whistle
[4:31] 9. I Sold My Heart To The Junkman
[5:12] 10. Song Of The Islands
[3:32] 11. Up Tight
[3:40] 12. Travelin'
[4:49] 13. Soft Summer Breeze
[6:24] 14. Don't Go To Strangers

Bass – Arthur Davis, George Duvivier; Congas – Ray Barretto; Drums – Arthur Taylor; Piano – Patti Bown, Walter Bishop; Saxophone – Gene Ammons. Recorded in October 17th & 18th, 1961.

Gene Ammons recorded many albums for Prestige but, if this CD is a good start for listeners unfamiliar with his playing. A reissue of two LPs (Up Tight and Boss Soul) recorded during the same two-day period, these performances find Ammons backed by a pair of four-piece rhythm sections (with either Walter Bishop or Patti Bown on piano and Ray Barretto's congas a major asset) and taking the lion's share of the solo space. Ammons sounds particularly warm and emotional throughout this CD, particularly on such numbers as "The Breeze and I," "I'm Afraid the Masquerade Is over," a cooking "Lester Leaps In" and "Song of the Islands." His sound and style effectively bridged the gap between bop and soul jazz. ~Scott Yanow

Up Tight!

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Gene Ammons & Sonny Stitt - Left Bank Encores

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:11
Size: 168,2 MB
Art: Front

( 9:06) 1. Just In Time
(11:31) 2. They Can't Take That Away From Me
( 9:37) 3. Theme From "Love Story"
( 6:56) 4. Exactly Like You
( 6:02) 5. Don't Go To Strangers
(15:51) 6. Autumn Leaves
(14:05) 7. Blues Up And Down

The antithesis of studio-bred perfection, Left Bank Encores is another interesting artifact of Ammons and Stitt’s long-term partnership. The presence of a large, vocal crowd at the Famous Ballroom doesn’t spur the expected tenor battle; rather, something looser and less dramatic occurs.

During a brisk rendition of “Just In Time,” the set’s opener, Ammons states the melody then delivers a solo full of short, abrupt phrases with a burly, elephantine tone. The rhythm section, comprised of pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Sam Jones, and drummer Billy Higgins, manages to swing efficiently and stay out of Ammons’ way. Brief and to the point, the tenor saxophonist’s soul-stirring accompaniment is a perfect match for Etta Jones’ vocals during a raucous take of “Exactly Like You.”

In contrast to Ammons’ large, lumbering presence, Stitt’s brief turn on the same track is a brilliant patchwork that brings together portions of the tune’s melody, blues locutions, and bebop flights into a coherent statement. “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” is noteworthy for the inspired give and take between Stitt and Walton on the saxophonist’s extended alto solo.~ David A. Orthmann https://www.allaboutjazz.com/left-bank-encores-gene-ammons-prestige-records-review-by-david-a-orthmann.php

Personnel: Gene Ammons - tenor saxophone; Sonny Stitt - tenor and alto saxophone; Cedar Walton - piano; Sam Jones - bass; Billy Higgins - drums; Etta Jones - vocals (4 and 5).

Left Bank Encores

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Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt - God Bless Jug And Sonny

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:01
Size: 156,6 MB
Art: Front

(16:32) 1. Blue 'N' Boogie
(14:58) 2. Stringin' The Jug
( 5:48) 3. God Bless The Child
( 5:05) 4. Autumn In New York
( 7:44) 5. Ugetsu
(17:51) 6. Bye Bye Blackbird

Jug and Sonny share a place near the top in the pantheon of tandem tenor teams. Their spirited, hard-charging contests, which always seem to end in amicable draws are the stuff of canonical jazz legend so the news of an previously unreleased recording of the pair is undoubtedly enough to set the countenances of their loyal fans to suffusing with expectant grins. Taped live at the Left Bank Jazz Society during Ammons’ twilight time (he would die a little over a year later) the date makes good on its promise. Three tracks clocking in at over fourteen minutes, one apiece as solo features for the individual tenors and a final track showcasing the rhythm section alone- its easy to see that this is a program custom-built to satisfy even the most demanding bop maven.

Ammon’s robust and throaty horn initiates the Gillespie classic “Blue ‘n’ Boogie” digging in deep around the theme and sounding off with sassy abandon through a ruddy stream of elongated notes. Stitt chimes in on the heels of his confrere’s solo with a lighter, less pugilistic tone, taking his time in cavorting with the rhythm section’s supportive swing. Engaging in a chain of overlapping exchanges the pair trade phrases before a final joint summation takes the tune out. “Stringin’ the Jug” affords Ammons inaugural honors a second time and the heavyweight tenor comes out swinging again. Jabbing and feinting through his series of choruses he again shows himself less light on his feet than Stitt and resorts on occasion to repetitive stock phrases. An uncharacteristic coarseness also invades his tone and its not always clear whether the change is a product of the recording fidelity or his own fading prowess. Stitt again sounds completely in control from the onset of his own protracted declaration, the speed of his unfurling lines matched by Higgins’ scampering drums.

The next two tracks provide opportunities to hear the individual horns in isolation with the rhythm section and the differences between Stitt and Ammons in these undiluted settings are particularly enlightening. Ammons’ gilded exploration of the Billie Holiday staple “God Bless the Child” balances just the right of measure of tenderness with muscular grit. Stitt hoists his alto for “Autumn in New York” working similar magic of the standard’s balladic changes. Walton’s “Ugetsu,” which first gained notoriety as an entry in the Jazz Messengers songbook gives the saxophonist’s a rest and the resulting trio shines on its own terms. Rounding out with a final burner in the form of a seventeen-minute “Bye Bye Blackbird” the tenor warhorses take one final gallop through the trenches.

As two-tenor conclaves go this one earns high marks. All the more so because unlike earlier recorded meetings between Jug and Sonny, track lengths allow for the duo to truly put each other through the paces. Listeners with a keen ear for the work of either man will find their expectations met many times over.~ Derek Taylor https://www.allaboutjazz.com/god-bless-jug-and-sonny-fantasy-jazz-review-by-derek-taylor.php

Personnel: Gene Ammons- tenor saxophone; Sonny Stitt- tenor & alto saxophones; Cedar Walton- piano; Sam Jones- bass; Billy Higgins-drums. Recorded: June 24, 1973, Baltimore, MD.

God Bless Jug And Sonny

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Gene Ammons - Young Jug

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:42
Size: 134.4 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1994/2009
Art: Front

[2:08] 1. Swingin' For Christmas
[2:50] 2. It's The Talk Of The Town
[3:04] 3. Stuffy
[3:23] 4. Once In A While
[3:07] 5. Pennies From Heaven
[2:44] 6. More Moon
[2:53] 7. Tenor Eleven
[3:39] 8. Goodbye
[2:58] 9. You Go To My Head
[2:47] 10. My Foolish Heart
[3:10] 11. Jug Head Ramble
[2:50] 12. Don't Do Me Wrong
[2:58] 13. Prelude To A Kiss
[2:47] 14. Baby, Won't You Please Say Yes
[2:46] 15. Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe
[2:52] 16. You're Not The Kind
[2:44] 17. I'll Walk Alone
[3:15] 18. Old Folks
[2:41] 19. Breezy
[2:56] 20. Somewhere Along The Way

A young Gene Ammons asserted his formidable ability to play the tenor saxophone in Chicago from 1948 to 1952. These sessions from the Chess label (reissued when the GRP label bought the masters) represent this coming of age in jazz contexts ranging from bop and blues to many ballads and hints of the big-band sound. While his sound is typically robust and gutsy, there's also quite a bit of evidence that Ammons was capable of playing tender and sweet, but at the base of all this music is the blues. A variety of bands are heard, but certain groups with certain sidemen are most notable, as they showcase the tenor man in distinctly different ways and means. Guitarist Leo Blevins and pianist Junior Mance are the finest contributors on the first two-thirds of this collection. Blevins uses a restrained tone mostly on chords during the classic swinger written by Coleman Hawkins, "Stuffy," and is marvelous in his restraint during the ballads "Once in a While" and "Pennies from Heaven," the latter with a featured second line from muted trumpeter Bill Massey. Mance is the best in a jazz-blues vein, whether on the slower, fully flowered tunes "Goodbye," "You Go to My Head," and "My Foolish Heart," the best small group swingers "Baby, Won't You Please Say Yes" and "You're Not The Kind," or in a larger combo aside the wailin' and boppin' of Ammons, Massey, and trombonist Matthew Gee during the quintessential Shorty Rogers number "More Moon" based on "How High the Moon" or titled "Full Moon." Energized and animated, Ammons goes to town on the hucklebuck style of "Jug Head Ramble," honking and sprawling in a call-and-response with Mance and Blevins, baritone saxophonist Sonny Stitt, and unsung drummer Wes Landers. The last four tracks again have Stitt on baritone, not tenor as he and Ammons would adopt in later life as a most famous tandem, with Massey and trombonist J.J. Johnson forming a mighty horn line. Massey's "Beezy" is the hottest and heaviest tune, "I'll Walk Alone" uses the most teamwork, and the other two, "Old Folks" and "Somewhere Along the Way" are more the sultry vehicles for Ammons with the others taking a back seat. This CD is an interesting window into the early germination period of a true jazz giant, and despite a somewhat thin production sound indicative of the era, is well worth finding and owning. ~Michael G. Nastos

Young Jug

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Gene Ammons - Gene Ammons Swinging the Jugg

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1976
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:18
Size: 74,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:17)  1. Swinging the Jugg
(5:44)  2. Round Midnight
(5:23)  3. Look of Love
(5:42)  4. Lover Man
(4:34)  5. Just the Blues
(6:35)  6. Confessing the Blues

Gene Ammons, who had a huge and immediately recognizable tone on tenor, was a very flexible player who could play bebop with the best (always battling his friend Sonny Stitt to a tie) yet was an influence on the R&B world. Some of his ballad renditions became hits and, despite two unfortunate interruptions in his career, Ammons remained a popular attraction for 25 years. Son of the great boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons (who was nicknamed "Jug") left Chicago at age 18 to work with King Kolax's band. He originally came to fame as a key soloist with Billy Eckstine's orchestra during 1944-1947, trading off with Dexter Gordon on the famous Eckstine record Blowing the Blues Away. 

Other than a notable stint with Woody Herman's Third Herd in 1949 and an attempt at co-leading a two tenor group in the early '50s with Sonny Stitt, Ammons worked as a single throughout his career, recording frequently (most notably for Prestige) in settings ranging from quartets and organ combos to all-star jam sessions. Drug problems kept him in prison during much of 1958-1960 and, due to a particularly stiff sentence, 1962-1969. When Ammons returned to the scene in 1969, he opened up his style a bit, including some of the emotional cries of the avant-garde while utilizing funky rhythm sections, but he was still able to battle Sonny Stitt on his own terms. Ironically the last song that he ever recorded (just a short time before he was diagnosed with terminal cancer) was "Goodbye."~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gene-ammons-mn0000160198/biography
 

Personnel: Tenor Saxophone – Gene Ammons; Drums  – Bob Guthrie; Guitar  – George Freeman; Organ  – Bob Pierce

Gene Ammons Swinging the Jugg

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Woody Herman - Keeper Of The Flame

Styles: Clarinet, Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:21
Size: 137,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:04)  1. That's Right
(2:52)  2. Lemon Drop
(3:14)  3. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
(3:07)  4. I Ain't Gettin' Any Younger
(3:12)  5. Early Autumn
(3:05)  6. More Than You Know
(3:03)  7. Keeper Of The Flame
(3:14)  8. The Crickets
(3:13)  9. More Moon
(3:11) 10. Detour Ahead
(3:12) 11. Jamaica Rhumba
(2:53) 12. Not Really The Blues
(2:57) 13. Tenderly
(2:42) 14. Lollipop
(2:37) 15. I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You
(3:13) 16. You've Got A Date with The Blues
(3:10) 17. Rhapsody In wood
(2:57) 18. The Great Lie
(3:14) 19. In The Beginning

Subtitled The Complete Capitol Recordings of the Four Brothers Band, this CD contains 19 selections from Herman's Second Herd, including three songs never before released. Top-heavy with major soloists (including trumpeters Red Rodney and Shorty Rogers; trombonist Bill Harris; tenors Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, and Gene Ammons; and vibraphonist Terry Gibbs; not to mention Herman himself), this boppish band may have cost the leader a small fortune but they created timeless music. Highlights include "Early Autumn" (a ballad performance that made Stan Getz a star), the riotous "Lemon Drop," and Gene Ammons' strong solo on "More Moon." 

~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/keeper-of-the-flame-the-complete-capitol-recordings-mw0000075785

Personnel:  Clarinet – Woody Herman;  Alto Saxophone – Sam Marowitz, Woody Herman;  Baritone Saxophone – Serge Chaloff;  Bass – Chubby Jackson (tracks: 1 to 7), Joe Mondragon (tracks: 13 to 19), Oscar Pettiford (tracks: 8 to 12);  Drums – Don Lamond (tracks: 1 to 7), Shelly Manne (tracks: 8 to 19);  Piano – Lou Levy;  Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn (tracks: 1 to 7), Buddy Savitt (tracks: 8 to 19), Gene Ammons (tracks: 8 to 19), Jimmy Giuffre (tracks: 8 to 19), Stan Getz (tracks: 1 to 7), Zoot Sims (tracks: 1 to 7);  Trombone – Bart Varsalona (tracks: 8 to 19), Bill Harris, Bob Swift (tracks: 1 to 7), Earl Swope, Ollie Wilson ; Trumpet – Al Porcino (tracks: 8 to 19), Bernie Glow (tracks: 1 to 7), Charlie Walp (tracks: 8 to 19), Ernie Royal, Red Rodney (tracks: 1 to 7), Shorty Rogers, Stan Fishelson;  Vibraphone – Terry Gibbs (tracks: 1 to 7, 10 to 19);  Vocals – Mary Ann McCall (tracks: 1 to 9), Woody Herman

Keeper Of The Flame

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Gene Ammons - The Soulful Saxophone of Gene Ammons

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1959
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 30:03
Size: 69,3 MB
Art: Front

(2:52)  1. My Foolish Heart
(3:04)  2. Prelude To A Kiss
(3:14)  3. It's You Or No One
(3:08)  4. Can You Explain
(2:48)  5. Goodbye
(2:41)  6. Pennies From Heaven
(2:53)  7. Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe
(3:08)  8. You Go To My Head
(3:16)  9. Once In A While
(2:56) 10. Its The Talk Of The Town

10 tracks that perfectly illustrate all that was great about Gene Ammons in his early days a set of singles and 78s recorded for Chess in the late 40s and early 50s, done in a laidback and soulful style that had a tremendous influence on the work of other tenor players at the time! The recording quality is nice and moody, and the tracks hold up surprisingly well over the years with titles that include "My Foolish Heart", "Goodbye", "Once In A While", "Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe", and "It's The Talk Of The Town".© 1996-2018, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/353439/Gene-Ammons:Soulful-Saxophone

Personnel:  Gene Ammons, Tom Archia, tenor sax; Christine Chatman, piano; Leroy Jackson, bass; Wesley Landers, drums.

The Soulful Saxophone of Gene Ammons

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Gene Ammons - Red Top

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:11
Size: 98.9 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1994/2009
Art: Front

[3:10] 1. El Sino
[2:54] 2. Ineta
[2:56] 3. Wild Leo
[3:00] 4. Leaping Leo
[3:07] 5. Just Chips
[2:55] 6. Street Of Dreams
[2:58] 7. Good Time Blues
[2:54] 8. Travellin' Light
[3:07] 9. Red Top
[3:06] 10. Fuzzy
[2:44] 11. Stairway To The Stars
[3:01] 12. Jim Dawgs
[4:31] 13. Big Slam Part 1
[2:43] 14. Big Slam Part 2

Baritone Saxophone – Leo Parker; Bass – Ben Stuberville, Gene Wright; Drums – Chuck Williams, George Brown; Piano – John Houston, Junior Mance; Tenor Saxophone – Gene Ammons; Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Mack Easton; Trombone – Lino Murray; Trumpet – Howard McGhee, Johnny Coles. Recorded in Detroit, October 4, 1947. Recorded in Chicago November 18, 1952, April 15, 1953 (B2) or June 1953.

Tenor-saxophonist Gene Ammons is well-featured on this LP, playing as a sideman with baritonist Leo Parker's sextet on four numbers from 1947 and heading two sessions of his own from 1952-53. The latter performances (which also include trumpeter Johnny Coles and pianist John Houston in the octet) are highlighted by a remake of Ammons's hit "Red Top," warm ballad versions of "Street of Dreams," "Travellin' Light" and "Stairway to the Stars" and an extended tenor battle with Mack Easton on "Big Slam." ~Scott Yanow

Red Top zippy
Red Top mc

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Gene Ammons - Funky

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:39
Size: 90,9 MB
Art: Front

( 9:01)  1. Funky
(12:23)  2. Pint Size
( 8:57)  3. Stella By Starlight
( 9:16)  4. King Size

The Gene Ammons all-star jam session recordings of the 1950's are all quite enjoyable and this one is no exception. The great tenor is matched with trumpeter Art Farmer, altoist Jackie McLean, guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Doug Watkins and drummer Art Taylor for lengthy versions of "Stella By Starlight," the Burrell blues "Funky" and a pair of numbers by arranger Jimmy Mundy. All of the horns plus Burrell and Waldron get ample solo space and Ammons seems to really inspire his sidemen on these soulful bop jams. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/funky-mw0000085895

Personnel:  Gene Ammons - tenor saxophone;  Art Farmer – trumpet;  Jackie McLean - alto saxophone;  Mal Waldron – piano;  Kenny Burrell – guitar;  Doug Watkins – bass;  Art Taylor – drums.

Funky

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Gene Ammons - A Stranger In Town

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 67:51

Size: 155.3 MB

Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz

Year: 2002

Art: Front

[9:41] 1. The Song Is You

[3:59] 2. Light'n Up

[3:32] 3. Short Stop

[3:58] 4. They Say You're Laughing At Me

[4:13] 5. Salome's Tune

[4:10] 6. Blue Coolade

[5:58] 7. A Stranger In Town

[5:32] 8. Scam

[4:24] 9. Count Your Blessings

[3:07] 10. Cara Mia

[5:18] 11. Night Lights

[5:41] 12. Calypso Blues

[8:11] 13. Nature Boy

Alto Saxophone – Oliver Nelson;Baritone Saxophone – Gene Easton, Robert Ashton; Bass – George Duvivier, Wendell Marshall; Congas – Henry Pucho Brown, Ray Barretto; Drums – Billy English, Ed Thigpen, George Brown, Rudy Collins, Walter Perkins; Piano – John Houston, Mal Waldron, Patti Brown, Richard Wyands, Wynton Kelly; Tenor Saxophone – Gene Ammons, George Barrow, Red Holloway; Trombone – Henderson Chambers; Trumpet – Clark Terry, Hobart Dotson, Nate Woodward.

More so than other independent jazz labels such as Blue Note and Riverside, the powers to be at Prestige seemed to take great liberties in producing albums that would often contain cuts from multiple sessions, a discographical nightmare at its most basic. But even more troubling, this often made for a lack of coherence that could be disconcerting at times. What then made all of this worse was that the practice was often used with some of the label’s most important and visible artists.

The forgoing will hopefully put into perspective the circumstances surrounding the strange mélange that makes up the Gene Ammons compilation A Stranger In Town. Taken from no less than five recording sessions that span from 1954 to 1970, the 13 tracks assembled here originally appeared on the albums Velvet Soul, Sock!, and Night Lights. That’s the easy part; and then it gets confusing as you try to keep up with the rotating cast of characters on hand. A boisterous “The Song Is You” gets us started with some great small group charts provided by Oliver Nelson, only to give way to a spate of quartet performances that while solid are not particularly all that revelatory. The closing three tracks, particularly a tasty “Calypso Blues,” are the cream of the crop as Ammons' blustery attack gets bluesy support from the ubiquitous Wynton Kelly. ~C. Andrew Hovan

A Stranger In Town

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Jack McDuff - The Prestige Years (Remastered)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:40
Size: 180.1 MB
Styles: Soul jazz
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[8:13] 1. The Honeydripper
[2:59] 2. Brother Jack
[4:49] 3. Sanctified Waltz
[8:55] 4. Yeah, Baby
[5:00] 5. Mellow Gravy
[6:01] 6. He's A Real Gone Guy
[6:22] 7. Candy
[7:00] 8. Tough 'Duff
[2:23] 9. Grease Monkey
[6:46] 10. Jive Samba
[2:59] 11. Organ Grinder's Swing
[7:18] 12. Screamin'
[2:56] 13. Hot Barbeque
[6:54] 14. Opus De Funk

Alto Saxophone – Leo Wright; Bass – Wendell Marshall; Drums – Bill Elliot, Joe Dukes; Guitar – Bill Jennings, Eddie Diehl, George Benson, Grant Green, Kenny Burrell; Organ – Brother Jack McDuff; Tenor Saxophone – Gene Ammons, Harold Vick, Jimmy Forrest, Red Holloway; Vibraphone – Lem Winchester.

The history of jazz is full of great musicians who died tragically young; Clifford Brown, Bix Beiderbecke, Eric Dolphy, Fats Navarro, Charlie Christian, Booker Little, and the seminal Charlie Parker were among the many legendary improvisers who died in their twenties or thirties. But when Jack McDuff passed away on January 23, 2001, at the age of 74, his fans could take some comfort in knowing that he had lived a long and productive life. The soul-jazz/hard bop organist left behind a huge catalog, which is why best-of releases like The Prestige Years and The Best of the Concord Years are sorely needed. While the latter is devoted to McDuff's Concord Jazz recordings of the '90s and early 2000s, this 79-minute CD focuses on his Prestige output of 1960-1965. Although McDuff only spent a fraction of his career at Prestige and was still keeping busy 35 years after leaving the label, Prestige was the company that put him on the map as a recording artist -- and most soul-jazz enthusiasts would agree that he recorded some of his most essential work there. The Prestige Years bears that out; "Rock Candy," "Yeah, Baby," and McDuff's 1960 version of Joe Liggins' "The Honeydripper" are required listening for anyone with even a casual interest in gritty, down-home organ combos. The list of musicians who join McDuff on these recordings reads like a who's who of '60s soul-jazz; Gene Ammons, George Benson, Red Holloway, Jimmy Forrest, and Grant Green are among the major names appearing in the credits. The Prestige Years is far from the last word on McDuff's long recording career -- for that matter, it's far from the last word on his Prestige output. But if one is seeking an introductory overview of McDuff's five years at that label, The Prestige Years wouldn't be a bad investment at all. ~Alex Henderson

The Prestige Years (Remastered)

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Sonny Stitt - Kaleidoscope

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1950
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:38
Size: 104,0 MB
Art: Front

(2:35)  1. Stitt's It
(2:38)  2. Cool Mambo
(2:25)  3. Blue Mambo
(2:28)  4. Sonny Sounds
(3:03)  5. Ain't Misbehavin'
(3:01)  6. Later
(3:01)  7. P.S. I Love You
(2:48)  8. This Can't Be Love
(3:26)  9. Imagination
(2:33) 10. Cherokee
(2:41) 11. Can't We Be Friends
(2:47) 12. Liza
(3:00) 13. To Think You've Chosen Me
(2:29) 14. After You've Gone
(3:09) 15. Our Very Own
(2:26) 16. S'wonderful

Deftly handling the alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone, bebop giant Sonny Stitt is heard to perfection here on a variety of early-'50s dates. Stitt not only shows off his patented speed throughout, but he goes a long way in dispelling criticisms of him being all fire and no grace. The 16-track disc kicks off with four tight, Latin-tinged swingers featuring an octet that includes trumpeter Joe Newman and timbales player Humberto Morales. Switching to piano quartet mode for the bulk of the disc, Stitt ranges effortlessly from frenetic blasts ("Cherokee") to golden-hued ballads ("Imagination"). Capping off the set with four bonus cuts featuring the likes of Gene Ammons and Junior Mance, Stitt delivers one of the top sets of performances from the late bebop era. ~ Stephen Cook http://www.allmusic.com/album/kaleidoscope-mw0000272732

Personnel: Sonny Stitt (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Larry Townsend (vocals); Gene Ammons (baritone saxophone); Joe Newman , John Hunt , Bill Massey (trumpet); Matthew Gee (trombone); John Houston, Charles Bateman, Junior Mance, Kenny Drew (piano); Wesley Landers, Art Blakey, Shadow Wilson, Teddy Stewart (drums); Humberto Morales (timbales).

Kaleidoscope

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Gene Ammons - Got My Own

Styles: Saxophone Jazz

Year: 1973

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 37:06

Size: 85,9 MB

Art: Front

(5:23)  1. Lady Sings The Blues

(4:02)  2. God Bless The Child

(3:34)  3. Strange Fruit

(4:56)  4. Fine And Mellow

(5:59)  5. Play Me

(5:29)  6. Ben

(7:40)  7. Tin Shack Out Back

A more laidback set than usual from Ammons' early 70s stretch on Prestige but a record that nicely gets back to that big-toned tenor sound he used often on ballads from earlier years! The combo mixes both electric piano and organ the former from Hank Jones, the latter from Ernie Hayes and drums are mostly by Idris Muhammad, but in a style that's a bit more roundly open and soul-based than some of his funkier jams. But there's still a nice groove to many numbers a gentler one, with a sly undercurrent of soul  even on a few that feature fuller strings arranged by Ed Bogas. Titles include "God Bless The Child", "Strange Fruit", "Fine & Mellow", "Lady Sings The Blues", "Play Me", "Tin Shack Out Back", and "Ben". (Cover & labels have initials in marker. Cover has a cut corner.) © 1996-2017, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/29632

Personnel:  Saxophone – Gene Ammons;  Bass – Ron Carter;  Drums – Billy Cobham , Idris Muhammad , Mickey Roker; Electric Piano – Hank Jones , Sonny Philips;  Guitar – Joe Beck , Maynard Parker.

Got My Own

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Gene Ammons - My Way

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1971
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 28:18
Size: 65,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:33)  1. Chicago Breakdown
(4:18)  2. What's Going On
(3:45)  3. A House Is Not A Home
(6:21)  4. Sack Full of Dreams
(4:18)  5. Back in Mérida
(6:01)  6. My Way

Although late in the Prestige jazz funk years, and not in the small combo mode of some of Ammons' best early 70s sides, this is still an excellent batch of tracks thanks to hip arrangements from Bill (William S?) Fisher! The format's almost in a Kudu/CTI mode, as larger arrangements envelope Jug's soulful tenor funking away with a blacksploitation on tracks like "Chicago Breakdown", "Back In Merida", and a great cover of "What's Going On", all done with tight horns, compressed guitar, and even a bit of strings. There's a few mellower numbers that aren't as great but these tracks more than make the album worth having! © 1996-2017, Dusty Groove, Inc.https://www.dustygroove.com/item/40417?s=Gene+Ammons&incl_oos=1&incl_cs=1&kwfilter=Gene+Ammons&sort_order=artist
 

Personnel:  Gene Ammons - tenor saxophone;  Robert Prado, Ernie Royal - trumpet (tracks 1, 2 & 4-6);  Garnett Brown - trombone (tracks 1, 2 & 4-6);  Richard Landry - tenor saxophone (tracks 1, 2 & 4-6);  Babe Clark - baritone saxophone (tracks 1, 2 & 4-6);  Roland Hanna - electric piano (tracks 1-3); Billy Butler (tracks 4-6), Ted Dunbar (tracks 1 & 2) – guitar;  Ron Carter - bass (tracks 4-6);  Chuck Rainey - electric bass (tracks 1 & 2);  Idris Muhammad - drums (tracks 1, 2 & 4-6);  Omar Clay - percussion (tracks 1, 2, 4 & 5);  Yvonne Fletcher, Patricia Hall, Loretta Ritter, Linda Wolfe - vocals (tracks 2 & 4)

My Way

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Gene Ammons - Water Jug

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 79:10
Size: 181.2 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[2:36] 1. Water Jug
[4:17] 2. But Not For Me
[3:54] 3. Time On My Hands
[5:25] 4. Confirmation
[4:16] 5. My Romance
[3:44] 6. Love Is Here To Stay
[5:14] 7. Ol' Man River
[8:47] 8. Blues Up And Down
[6:30] 9. There Is No Greater Love
[6:42] 10. Mad House
[8:50] 11. Scamperin'
[8:58] 12. Hip Tip
[4:38] 13. A Pair Of Red Pants
[5:13] 14. My Foolish Heart

Ammons is paired up with a rhythm section featuring Mal Waldron on piano, bassist Wendell Marshall and Ed Thigpen on drums. These are relatively straightforward ballads which concentrate on melody. The tunes serve as effective parts to the album, coming after the celebratory mood of “Water Jug,” and features a creative cadenza by Ammons.

Water Jug

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