Search - Joe Newman :: Complete 1955-56 (Basic Days)

Joe Newman

Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 10/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Since 1952, Joe Newman had been firmly ensconced in the Count Basie orchestra, and would remain so until 1961. It was during his tenure there that he made 4 LPs for Victor in 1955-56; those 4 albums are included in this 2-CD set. One was a big band affair (SALUTE TO SATCH), while the other three were septet/octet outings. All of them offer consistently great jazz music. My favorite is the last of the 4, THE MIDGETS, with Frank Wess on flute. Both principals really work well together (I'd prefer Wess playing tenor, but you can't have everything)."The Midgets" is Newman's best-known (and best) original composition, and Wess and Joe play a handsome rendition of it. The big band sides brought together many of the best NY studio guys (Victor at this time had great luck in being able to do this often), and Phil Woods, Jimmy Cleveland, Al Cohn and others of similar renown add mightily to the proceedings. Newman attempts to sing on 3 tracks, an interesting experiment but one I was glad he gave up. These 2 CDs pack an awful lot of great mainstream-modern music on them and are highly recommended."