Search - Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers :: Night in Tunisia / Play Lerner & Loewe

Power Package

Samuel Chell | Kenosha,, WI United States | 06/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These are both comparatively rare editions of the Messengers, and the two-fer represents a great opportunity for anyone whose collection of Messenger recordings is confined largely to the Blue Note dates. McLean and Griffin (whose sound on tenor is captured better here than on the Blue Note sessions with which I'm familiar) are both relatively high profile players, at least among musicians, but Bill Hardman is frequently overlooked, even though no trumpet player put in a longer tour of duty with Blakey--in the mid-50's, late 60's, and through most of the 70's.



I agree with the previous reviewer that the real delight is the Lerner and Lowe date. Right from the opening "I Could Have Danced All Night," a challenging chord sequence taken at a blistering pace, Griffin throws down the gauntlet, executing with scary speed and pyrotechnical precision but never at the expense of melodic inventiveness. I can think of few trumpet players who would want to, or even could, follow Griff after a monster solo such as this (he didn't get titles like "Little Giant," and "Fastest Tenor Alive" for nothing). But Bill Hardman does, and as usual is up to any challenge.



In the liner notes, Bill is quoted as saying this was an extremely difficult, tiring recording session and that he wasn't quite up to its demands. I believe the first part of his statement, but the second part merely shows that this masterful musician may have been an overly modest human being.



As for Mr. Blakey, listen to the drum solo introducing the first tune, "Night in Tunisia"--explosive, irresistibly kinetic rhetoric and captured in audio that's honest and true (no added resonance or gratuitous boosting of those press rolls). My only regret is that the penultimate dominant chord of the concluding chorus (A altered 7) was given to McLean rather than Hardman, who I once saw expand upon that chord with such dazzling, inexhaustible virtuosity that the audience (which included Freddie Hubbard) was shaking its heads in disbelief. You may wish to check out pricing at the website of the manufacturer, Collectables (Oldies.com)."

Double the pleasure

Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 03/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Both albums that are included in this 2-CD set are excellent, but the Lerner and Loewe is the better of the two by a slight margin. Every tune is played wonderfully. Some might complain that the disc lacks variety because every track is done up-tempo, but that didn't bother me at all--at least not here. It's tenorsax man Johnny Griffin's first date with the Messengers, and he does a beautiful job. The Night in Tunisia date has Jackie McLean on alto with Griffin, and the two reedmen inspire each other greatly. Only Griffin's "Off the wall" disappoints a bit, with everything else terrific. The sound on both CDs is not the greatest, but shouldn't interfere with getting the most from the music. Highly recommended"