Phineas Newborn Born Anew!
Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 10/03/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It had been five years since the remarkable "Newborn Touch," when pianist Phineas Newborn Jr. got together with bassist Ray Brown and drummer Elvin Jones at Contemporary Studios in Los Angeles to record the sessions that would become "Harlem Blues" and "Please Send Me Someone To Love" in mid February 1969. Listening to this CD, the first thing you notice is that time has seemingly stood still -- this trio date could be from 1959 as easily as '69. While jazz had changed dramatically since 1964, Newborn had not and his profund playing is still filled with furious flurries of ebony and ivory. Elvin Jones' contribution is essential, as he is one of the few drummers who can keep up with Newborn's bounty of notes, yet compliment the pianist with multi-layered embellishments of his own. Ray Brown is the navigator that holds these two musical adventurers on course. Usually I don't buy many jazz albums made after 1965, but I'm delighted I took a chance on this one, and I can't wait to get its companion "Harlem Blues.""