Sonny Clark: Leapin' And Lopin'-1984 Blue Note French Import Reissue Stereo LP

$

34

1984 French Import Stereo Reissue of Classic 1961 Blue Note Release of Bandleader/Composer/Pianist Sonny Clark Entitled Leapin' and Lopin', Originally Produced by Alfred Lion, Recording by Rudy Van Gelder, Liner Notes by Ira Gitler - "Like Fats Navarro and Charlie Parker before him, Sonny Clark's life was short but it burned with musical intensity. Influenced deeply by Bud Powell, Clark nonetheless developed an intricate and hard-swinging harmonic sensibility that was full of nuance and detail. Regarded as the quintessential hard bop pianist, Clark never got his due before he passed away in 1963 at the age of 31, despite the fact that it can be argued that he never played a bad recording date either as a sideman or as a leader. Known mainly for seven records on the Blue Note label with a host of players including such luminaries as John Coltrane, Art Farmer, Donald Byrd, Jackie McLean, Hank Mobley, Art Taylor, Paul Chambers, Wilbur Ware, Philly Joe Jones, and others, Clark actually made his recording debut with Teddy Charles and Wardell Gray, but left soon after to join Buddy DeFranco. His work with the great clarinetist has been documented in full in a Mosaic set that is now sadly out of print. Clark also backed Dinah Washington, Serge Chaloff, and Sonny Criss before assuming his role as a leader in 1957. Clark's classic is regarded as Cool Struttin' but each date he led on Blue Note qualifies as a classic, including his final date, Sonny's Crib with John Coltrane. And though commercial success always eluded him, he was in demand as a sideman and played dozens of Alfred Lion-produced dates, including Tina Brooks' Minor Move. Luckily, Clark's contribution is well documented by Alfred Lion; he has achieved far more critical, musical, and popular acclaim than he ever did in life." - "Sonny Clark's fifth Blue Note recording as a leader is generally regarded as his best, especially considering he composed four of the seven tracks, and they all bear his stamp of originality. What is also evident is that he is shaping the sounds of his quintet rather than dominating the proceedings as he did on previous dates. Tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse and trumpeter Tommy Turrentine play very little harmony on the date, but their in-tune unison lines are singularly distinctive, while bassist Butch Warren and young drummer Billy Higgins keep the rhythmic coals burning with a steady, glowing red heat. Among the classic tunes is the definitive hard bop opener "Somethin' Special," which lives up to its title in a most bright and happy manner, with Clark merrily comping chords. "Melody for C" is similarly cheerful, measured, and vivid in melodic coloration. The showstopper is "Voodoo," the ultimate late-night slinky jazz tune contrasted by Clark's tinkling piano riffs. Warren wrote the exciting hard bopper "Eric Walks" reminiscent of a Dizzy Gillespie tune, while Turrentine's "Midnight Mambo" mixes metaphors of Afro-Cuban music with unusual off-minor phrases and Rouse's stoic playing. Tenor saxophonist Ike Quebec plays a cameo sans the other horns on the soulful ballad "Deep in a Dream," exhibiting a vocal quality on his instrument, making one wonder if any other sessions with this group were done on the side. Top to bottom, Leapin' and Lopin' is a definitive recording for Clark, and in the mainstream jazz idiom, as well." - Sensational Personnel for the Quintet or Sextet Features Legendary Composer Sonny Clark on Piano, the Amazing Tommy Turrentine on Trumpet, the Brilliant Charlie Rouse or Ike Quebec("Deep in a Dream")on Tenor Saxophone, Butch Warren on Bass and the Talented Billy Higgins on Drums! - Selections on Side One Are the Sonny Clark Penned Somethin' Special, the Eddie DeLange/James Van Heusen Standard Deep in a Dream & Original Sonny Clark Composition Melody for C at 7 Minutes 50 Seconds - Tracks for Side Two Consist of the Butch Warren Song Eric Walks, Original Sonny Clark Composition Voodoo at 7 Minutes 39 Seconds and the Sonny Clark Penned Midnight Mambo - Sealed Copy, French Import, BST 84091 - California Residents Add 9.75% Sales Tax - International S & H Extra -