Search - Lawrence Marable :: Tenorman

Lost classics

Guillaume Gilbert | Sherbrooke, Qc, Can | 07/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Before emi japan released this product part of their jazz re-release program, I had never heard about this album, as I had never heard about most albums on the Jazz West label as well, for it's mostly out of print since long ago.

Anyway I was intrigued by a quartet album(as I particularly like small combo jazz) featuring James Clay on tenor sax that was released on a West Coast jazz label in the 50's so I bought it and I was blown away. This is "classic" modern jazz at it's best. An album as good as most classics of the era. It displays delicate romanticism as well as hard swinging improvisations. Any serious jazz collection needs it.The Sound of SonnyArt & PerceptionConte Candoli QuartetCharlie Parker: A Studio Chronicle 1940-1948The Complete Original Quartet Recordings"

A classic.If you dig post war jazz READ THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

C. Katz | Peoples Republic Of Massachussettes | 11/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well maybe that is a misnomer.It is a West Coast LP on the fantastic Cult ,impossible to find Jazz West label (another must is the Jack Sheldon two-fer now on CD).This is is east coast in ti's sound and only LP ever led by MJQ allum Lawrence Marable.While nominally he is leader the star is the Texas Tenor James Clay (man so many greats from Ornette to Jacquett came from the big T).And after all it is called Tenorman.James Clay only had two LP's under his own name (one with Nat Adderley and Victor Feldman et all "A Double Dose Of Soul" is a Classic.Another with Cannonball is one to pass on).



But this 1956 LP is a classic not only because of Clay (who here was a fresh faced 20 year old) but because of presence of the always great Sonny Clark.Rounding out band is Jimmy Bond on bass and the titular leader Lawrence Marable.How good is it?INCREDIBLE.It combines the east-west coast feel perfectly.The rip into 1) Devil In The Deep Blue Sea 2)"Easy Living" brings the pace down a bit but not the inventive lines of all 3)"Minor Meeting" by Sonny Clark (which has become a minor standard by now) is incredible) 4)Herb Geller's "Airtight" 5)A beauty of a a "Willow Weep For Me" 6) a rare one (maybe only recorded here) A Sonny Clark tune "Three Fingers North" 7)Loverman 8)Marbles (for Marable-get it?) and ending with "It's alright with me.

Now how good is this from this guy who probably looking at his ratings of all 5 stars would probably give "The Best Of Perry Como Sings) at least 4?Well last original copy I saw sell on Ebay was $3K!!!!!!It has to be more than rare to get that price.

And her the best thing.You can get this either as is or get a compilation long overdue called "Tenorman:James Clay The Kid From Dalls" by the great Fresh Sounds label.It includes not only full LP but adds a first cut of Clay,Bond,and Bobby Timmons and Pete Littman from a Forum Theatre performance of "In A Sentimental Mood" that is so well played I am not sure it wasn't done in studio as well.Then after the 7 cuts of "Tenorman" you get and incredible band led my Red Mitchell with Frank Capp on Bass and Lorraine Geller on keyboard (wife of sax player Herb Geller who died tragically young yet who was an incredible bop pianist.If you can find a original or re-issue of her Dot LP your in for a treat).They play "Scrapple From The Apple",Out Of The Blue" ,and Sandu.The last added cut is same band but Billy Higgins on Drums.IMHO this is one of the most important re-issues in years for orignal Marable rarity and the added material.It makes perfect companion with The Mitchell,Clay,Geller,Higgins LP "Presenting Red Mitchell".Clay like Geller is rather a tragic story but one with nice ending.Clay like so many others (like say Tina Brooks) found that the music game was by mid 60's a losing proposition.He returned to Texas and I believe was a janitor for about 20 years until (bless him) Don Chery found Clay and put him on one of his LP's("Brown Rice"????).his led to a renaissance for a short few years until Clay's death in 1994.All of the LP's can be found at www.allmusic.com.Here is another example that whenever I can now I mentioning for you to check out www.jazzfoundation.org who help well known and lesser known jazz artists with medical care,housing etc.Give what you can and pass the word.If only James Clay had gotten to record more the modern jazz cannon would be so much richer.Get this LP or better the Fresh Sounds re-issue as well "Double Dose Of Soul" and "Presenting Red Mitchell.James Clay was a most under recognized master of his instrument with a sound that cannot be learned but was his voice."

Rightly super famous

Jazzcat | Genoa, Italy Italy | 11/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I know you all like myself, jazz aficionados, know this cover. It is an album from drummer Lawrence Marable which came out in 1956 for the Jazz West label (was not Blue Note as some sites report). I know this one is a very expensive album at the moment because it exists only in the Japanese edition and what can I say... it is surely very good and deserves attention. It is solid from the beginning to the end. Very enjoyable. I don't know if I'd judge this one essential for the price. Jazz history is full of gems that luckily, cost less than fifty dollars plus taxes. But apart from economical considerations that I leave to you, I can say that this is a really consistent session. James Clay is the leader voice, the "tenorman". The band is swinging and absolutly in time. The music is a not too extreme hard bop. It's not west coast even if the label is Jazz West. The program is based upon very well known standards compositions such as "lover man", "between the devil and the deep blue sea", "easy living", "willow weep for me" plus some very nice originals in the hard bop vein. It is surely an excellent album. Very solid from its beginning to its end. If you want to spend 50 dollars and be sure to buy something that has value, this is a very good place to do it."