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Charles Persip
Charles Persip, The Jazz Statesmen, Marcus Belgrave
Charles Persip
Genre: Jazz
 
  •  Track Listings (5) - Disc #1

Charles Persip has been an outstanding drummer since his extended stay with Dizzy Gillespie's bands in the late 1950s. He has a crisp time feel, a steady stream of rhythmic details, and a talent for aggressive but musicall...  more »

     

CD Details

All Artists: Charles Persip, The Jazz Statesmen, Marcus Belgrave, Roland Alexander, Freddie Hubbard, Ron Carter, Robnald Mathews
Title: Charles Persip
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Bethlehem Records
Release Date: 2/4/1997
Genre: Jazz
Style: Bebop
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 742827301921

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Charles Persip has been an outstanding drummer since his extended stay with Dizzy Gillespie's bands in the late 1950s. He has a crisp time feel, a steady stream of rhythmic details, and a talent for aggressive but musically structured drum solos. This 1960 recording, originally made for the Bethlehem label, was Persip's first as a leader. He's clearly following in the footsteps of other drummer-leaders like Max Roach and Art Blakey in surrounding himself with talented younger musicians, but he also gives heightened prominence to his own instrument. The music is solidly in the hard-bop mold, with nods toward soul jazz, and it's played by a band capable of both individual expression and a snapping precision. Freddie Hubbard would soon make an enduring impression with Blakey's band, but he's already a trumpeter of the first rank here, his solos blooming with ideas and raw energy. The dominant influences of the day are much in evidence. Tenor saxophonist Roland Alexander has the hard metallic sound favored by early Coltrane followers, while pianist Ronnie Matthews is skillful in a Horace Silver vein. A youthful Ron Carter completes the band on bass. The concluding "The Champ" is a Dizzy Gillespie tune rearranged here as a feature for the leader's drums. --Stuart Broomer

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CD Reviews

Take No Prisoners Straight Ahead Steamer
Norman Zierler | New Hartford, NY United States | 08/23/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I often wonder why certain musicians remain relatively obscure yet are more talented than those who achieve fame. Take the case of Charles Persip, a terrific drummer, who will never be confused with Art Blakey, but, for my money, Persip wins hands down. Go figure! This reissue of a Bethlehem release, Charles Persip and the Jazz Statesmen, is one of the best quintets I've heard. It kicks off with an original composition, Sevens, that grabbed my attention instantly. This is followed by a version of The Song Is You, taken at a jaw-dropping fast clip. Right Down Front is another blazer, drenched in the blues, and kicked into high gear by fantastic solos from Roland Alexander (whatever happened to him?) and a pre-Messenger Freddie Hubbard, who plays his a-- off. Ronnie Mathews and Ron Carter round out the rhythm section and lend rock solid support, with Matthews getting off inventive and exciting solos. But Persip is the star of this show, driving the band with an intensity equaling true drumming superstars such as Buddy Rich, Max Roach, Art Taylor, Jimmy Cobb, Kenny Washington, Lewis Nash, and Butch Miles. Soul March and a breakneck take on The Champ round out this fine album. I find it sickening that it can be had for as little as $2.50. Grab it at any price. It will not disappoint."
Playing straight and sober
Samuel Chell | Kenosha,, WI United States | 07/28/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a quintessential group of major players (though I confess the tenor player is new to me), urged to Olympian heights by Persip, who issues thunderbolts as authoritatively as Zeus. The group charges out of the gate, with Persip driving hard while using his left hand to play counterpuntal, percussive "melodies." And it's not just the independence of his left-hand work on the snares but his power. He's equally definitive whether playing snares, toms, bass drum, cymbals or hi-hat, and at both up (way up) tempos and medium cookers.



None of his solos is drawn out; in fact, just hearing Persip behind these players, pushing Freddie Hubbard to some of his best work on record, is sufficient to sustain interest--the general listener's as well as a drummer's--throughout the program. After hearing Persip on this date, you can only wonder why all the "prestigious" Van Gelder recording dates went to the likes of Billy Higgins and Roy Haynes. Another drummer who's capable of provoking that same question is Frank Butler (the Curtis Counce group). Butler is a magician whereas Persip is a one-man earthmover. In fact, I wonder if his tightly wound snare heads and absolutely unforgiving pulse (always on the forward part of the beat) were a bit much for many musicians to handle before Viagra (he's definitely not the drummer for musicians who think they play better on downers)."