Connossoir stuff
Jazzcat | Genoa, Italy Italy | 11/26/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This connossoir series from Blue Note is some of the best stuff Blue Note guys have in their vaults. The original "connossoir" series, the first round I mean, unfortunatly no more in print, comprehended legendary records such as this album from Jenkins and Kenny Burrell (Something personal from Jack Wilson, The man with the horn from Lou Donaldson and so on). Unfortunatly this series is no longer in print as I have just said (at least in Italy) so you have to be really lucky to find these gems used. In this case I have been. I did buy this cd a couple of weeks ago and now that I have assimilated it quite well I can say it's really a marvel. Jenkins is a pure parkerian (and I am a Parker lover too) and Kenny Burrell, you know the man and his sound. Clear, clean, defined, articulated, he was a bopper, an hard bopper. The other guys involved in this recording were Sonny Clark (piano), Mr P.C. (double bass), you brother cats know whom I'm talking about, Dannie Richmond drums. Oh fellows jazzlovers, this album is something you don't have to miss absolutly if you are lucky enough to find it. Pure jazz, the hard bop way, with perfect intention and very nice solos over originals and favorities standards. I have 7000 jazz cds most of them from the golden era, and this one is really one of the best of them. Delightful lines like Sharon are something you can't do nothing but absolutly have in your collection. A very very good album, five stars without a doubt. Oh, ... You can bet on it, it's a 1957 record. Magic year.
"
Another Unheralded Blue Note Saxman
Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 07/17/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"John Jenkins is another in an unfortunately long line of unheralded yet amazing Blue Note saxophone players -- Tina Brooks, Sonny Red, Harold Vick, and to a lesser extent Ike Quebec. Released as part of the limited edition Connoisseur series, "John Jenkins With Kenny Burrell" features, you guessed it, Jenkins on alto sax and Burrell on guitar, with the formidable rhythm trio of Sonny Clark on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and longtime Mingus cohort Dannie Richmond on drums, in a rare Blue Note appearance. The disc features three wonderful hard bop originals by Jenkins, "Motif," "Sharon" and "Chalumeau," and one by Burrell, "Blues For Two." The album's remaining two selections are standards, Cole Porter's "From This Moment On" and the beautiful, seldom recorded ballad "Everything I Have Is Yours." John Jenkins might not have many albums as a leader (two on OJC and an excellent Savoy, "John Jenkins & Donald Byrd -- Jazz Eyes" which I don't think is available anymore), but they are all outstanding."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1