Search - Gil Melle :: Complete Prestige Recordings

PERSONNEL Art Farmer, Kenny Dorham (tp); Julius Watkins (frh); Don Butterfield (tuba); Hal McKusick (as); Seldon Powell (ts); Teddy Charles (vb); Joe Cinderella (g); Billy Phillips, George Duvivier, Vinnie Burke (b); Ed Thigpen, Shadow Wilson (d) Writer-baritone saxophonist Gil Mellé led a quartet that played some of the most creative, cohesive and provocative jazz sounds of the Fifties. His unorthodox approach echoed his attitudes toward the whole field of jazz and his thoughtful frameworks were, in his own words, "the perfect admixture of classical techniques with jazz emotion and beat". Mellé's cliche-free writing was always fresh and bright, his lines attractive and flowing. On baritone he was a relaxed soloist, with a warm deep tone, rolling phrasing and fluid beat. But though his was the prime voice, his colleagues also displayed a consistent quality of musicianship. And although all were fine musicians in their own right, it's worth noting the lucid and imaginative guitarist Joe Cinderella, and the musical breadth and intelligence of drummer Ed Thigpen. That said, the music you will hear on this CD unquestionably bears the emotional and intellectual stamp of Gil Mellé (1931-2004), a thinking musician, daring and unafraid to push the boundaries. CD1: Adventure Swing / Mark One / Dedicatory Piece To The Geophysical Year Of 1957 / Dominica / Ballet Time / Iron Works / Walter Ego / Jacqueline / It Don't Mean A Thing / Full House / Quadrama / In A Sentimental Mood / Rush Hour In Hong Kong-CD2: Tomorrow / Block Island / Soudan / Still Life / Sixpence / Ghengis / Funk For Star People / Golden Age / Herbie