Search - Illinois Jacquet :: Complete Sessions 1945-1950

ILLINOIS JACQUET-Complete 1945-1950 Sessions

Stuart Jefferson | San Diego,Ca | 11/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Three discs-66,67,58 minutes each approximately. Digitally remastered sound which has been cleaned up nicely,lacking a slight presence because of the recording practices of the time. This set begins at the very start of Jacquet's solo career in Los Angeles. Prior to this,Jacquet had played with Lionel Hampton and Cab Calloway until 1944,when he led his own group and was starting to play through Norman Granz's Jazz At The Philharmonic series. During this same time period Jacquet played in Count Basie's band,which helped him evolve his playing into a bit smoother style. He also had a band that,at various times,had Fats Navarro and Miles Davis in it.



Jacquet was instrumental (no pun intended) in promoting the honking,shouting style of tenor sax playing. There are several tracks that feature a vocalist(usually Russell Jacquet or Wynonie Harris) that show off this blend of declamatory singing/sax-blowing in a jazz/r&b setting. The players throughout this set will be well-known to anyone with a knowledge of this era and type of music. Names such as Henry Coker(tb),Sir Charles Thompson(p),Charles Mingus(yes that Mingus)(b),Freddie Green(g),Shadow Wilson(d),Leo Parker (bs),and many others crop up on various tracks.



As the years in this set progress,Jacquet's style and tone become a bit smoother,yet he never loses that spark that signified his style. The tunes consist of quite a few Jacquet originals along with a few tunes by his fellow musicians. The set starts off with Jacquet's rendition of FLYING HOME,his hit when playing with Lionel Hampton. From there the tracks seem to flow together as a whole. Jump tunes are mixed with slower numbers,which makes for very satisfying listening.



This is the kind of set that begs to be heard by more people than the few who know Jacquet's name,and think of him as just another honking sax player who blended gut-bucket blues with hard-bop. This music is part of the foundation of jazz-and as such should be held in higher esteem. Besides,this is great music-pure and simple."