Search - Blue Mitchell :: Out of the Blue

Another gem...

Rolltide | Columbia, Tn | 11/11/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I purchased the first three blue mitchell recordings from riverside in part because of the previous review(Thank you mr richman) and they re-awakened my love for jazz. This work is the second one in the group between the classics "big six" and "blue soul". It features another all star caste with blue @ trumpet, benny golson(ts), wynton kelly(p), paul chambers(b) and the legendary art blakey on drums. It opens with a blues number(Blues on my mind) so chunky you feel you can take a bite out of it. Blue lays down the mood and golson follows with a sexy solo as everyone in the band takes their turn.. It sets the tone for the whole record and has become one of my favorites. The music is sweet, melodic, introspective and always grounded in the blues. Each of the performances is superb including blakey who isn't my favorite drummer. Nothing in this recording is hurried and blue's trumpet always sets the mood. Golson plays as well as ever here. It's interesting to note that this was recorded just 2 months after the better known hard bop classic "moanin" by blakey and golson. I always associate the one with the other but find myself listening to this one more..."

"Out Of The Blue" Out Ahead

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 01/13/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Blue Mitchell's "Out Of The Blue" is the second of three amazing albums that the trumpeter made for Riverside in the late 50s. (I have reviewed the other two, "Big Six" and "Blue Soul," and a compilation featuring material from all three sessions, "Blues On My Mind," for those interested.) However, if anything this is my least favorite of the three. The reason is that where "Big Six" and "Blue Soul" had polished, tight arrangements that were meticulously constructed, "Out Of The Blue" is more of a free-flowing jam session. But what a jam session it is (!) with Benny Golson on tenor sax, Wynton Kelly or Cedar Walton on piano, Paul Chambers or Sam Jones on bass, and the great Art Blakey on drums. The standout tunes are Golson's "Blues On My Mind," "Sweet-Cakes" (which while attributed to Mitchell reminds me of another jazz standard that I just can't put my finger on at this moment) and a great version of "When The Saints Go Marching In." The CD also includes the bonus track "Studio B" which was not on the original album. For anyone who knows Blue Mitchell from his work with Horace Silver, this will be an excellent introduction to his recordings as a leader."

Out of the Blue, my review from Barcelona

Jose Maria Domenech Fedi | 07/08/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This BLUE MITCHELL's Out of the Blue belongs to the marvelous trilogy that Mitchell made for Riverside in the 50' s although in my opinion a little bit polished in the arrangements respect the other two the superbs BIG 6 and BLUE SOUL having the three in common, nevertheless, great themes, great interpretations and the pianist WINTON KELLY a number one, what a great pianist. The remainder of the group is also very high level, BENNY GOLSON on tenor sax playing as magnificient as ever, CEDAR WALTON on piano in one theme "Studio B" also a great pianist, ART BLAKEY on drums one of the three better usual drummers, the well-known SAM JONES and PAUL CHAMBERS on bass distributing the session and of course the excellent form in which this distinctive trumpeter BLUE MITCHELL is found. The music is in general relaxed, also melodic, introspective and sometimes grounded in the blues as in open track "Blues on my mind". We find some excellent versions "It could happen to you", "Boomerang" and the sweet slow "Missing you", also in this consistently swinging repertoire includes to surprisingly effective and superb version of the popular "When the Saints go marching in". To finish a magnificent theme with hard-bop format "Studio B". I recommend it, a good record of great JAZZ."