RANDY WESTON Trio "GET HAPPY" LP NM/VG+ Riverside 12-203, 1956 Deep Groove

$

46

AllMusic Review by Jim Todd  [-]

This early release from Randy Weston finds the pianist still in his formative stages. His supple technique is evident, along with key influences: Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, and Art Tatum -- their lessons not quite yet melded into an approach of Weston's own. As well, this 1955 date is from the period before Weston's time spent in Nigeria and Northern Africa, where he absorbed musical experiences that would help form the more distinctive approach that emerged in his playing in the 1960s. The set shows Weston's facility with standards, Ellingtonia, even ragtime, but, with several tracks coming in well under four minutes, the performances offer little room for development. The impression here is that of a pianist of great potential limbering up before the curtain rises for the show. The subdued rhythm support of bassist Sam Gill and drummer Wilbert Hogan adds to this effect. The level of interaction between the leader and his rhythm team is not great. The only real exception is the nice dialogue between the pianist and the bassist on the standard "Dark Eyes." Also absent are the writing skills for which Weston would later become known with trademark works such as "Hi-Fly" and "Little Niles." Weston's two originals on Get Happy are unremarkable, riff-based tunes that only reinforce the sense of this session's serving as a promising warm-up for better things to come.

The Randy Weston Trio* ?– Get Happy With The Randy Weston Trio

Label:

Riverside Records ?– RLP 12-203

Series:

Riverside Contemporary Series –

Format:

Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono

Country:

US

Released:

1956

Genre:

Jazz

Style:

Bop

TracklistHide Credits

A1 Get Happy

Written-By – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler

A2 Fire Down There

A3 Where Are You?

A4 Under Blunder

Written-By – Randy Weston

A5 Dark Eyes

B1 Summertime

Written-By – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin*

B2 Bass Knows

Written-By – Randy Weston

B3 C-Jam Blues

Written-By – Duke Ellington

B4 A Ballad

Written-By – Sam Gill

B5 Twelfth Street Rag

Written-By – Andy Razaf, Euday L. Bowman

Companies, etc.

Recorded At – Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey

Credits

Bass – Sam Gill

Design – Gene Gogerty

Drums – Wilbert Hogan

Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder

Piano – Randy Weston

Producer – Bill Grauer, Orrin Keepnews

Notes

Recorded Hackensack, N.J., August 29 and 31, 1955.

White label with blue and black print. "Reel and microphone" logo.

GOLDMINE GRADING

MINT ---- It should appear to be perfect. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains, labels or writing, tears or splits. Mint means perfect.

NEAR MINT ---- Otherwise mint but has one or two tiny inconsequential flaws that do not affect play. Covers should be close to perfect with minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident: slight ring-wear, minor denting to a corner, or writing on the cover should all be noted properly.

VERY GOOD PLUS ---- The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. Not too far from perfect. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of a sleeve or the vinyl or some of the original luster may be lost. A slight scratch that did not affect play would be acceptably VG+ for most collectors.

VERY GOOD ---- Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise, but should not overwhelm the musical experience. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc.

GOOD ---- Well played with little luster and significant surface noise. Despite defects, record should still play all the way through without skipping. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork.

POOR ---- Any record or cover that does not qualify for the above "Good" grading should be seen as Poor. Several cover flaws.