Search - Edmond Hall :: Flyin' High 1949-1959

Flyin' High with Edmond Hall

John C. Graham | toronto, ontario Canada | 06/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is easily a must have for Edmond Hall fans. You get two lp's on one cd with a total time of 70:51. The first 10 tunes were originally released on lp as"Rumpus On Rampart Street". The recording took place at Nola Penthouse Studio in New York in June of 1959. The line-up of musicians for this session is staggering...Edmond Hall, Omer Simeon, and Herb Hall on clarinets, Dick Cary on piano, Jimmy Raney on guitar, Al Hall on the bass, and Jimmy Crawford on drums. They play six Edmond Hall originals and four standards. The rhythm section is a real delight and Edmond's hot, intelligent, and intense soloing over top is just the iceing on the cake. This session alone is worth the ticket price.



The second part of this cd is from a 1949 Boston radio broadcast and the line-up is as good as it gets...Johnny Windhurst: trumpet, Vic Dickenson: trombone, Kenny Kersey: piano, John Field: bass, Jimmy Crawford is, again, the drummer, and Edmond Hall plays clarinet.

The band stretches out on eight familiar numbers and while all the players solo admirably, the under recorded and short lived Johnny Windhurst should be singled out for his marvellous playing.



Edmond Hall was, in my opinion, the greatest and most interesting of all the early clarinettists. His expressive playing was a highlight on many recordings. His solos were always inventive and stimulating, his tone unique, and easily recognizable. Thanks to the I.A.J.R.C.(international association of jazz record collectors)and to John Norris for his informative liner notes. This one is enthusiastically recommended."