The second youth of Teddy Wilson
Roel Abels | Groningen, Netherlands | 09/16/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"These recordings for Verve records were made in 1956. Besides Teddy on piano, we hear the solid bass of Gene Ramey and the
ever swinging drums of `papa` Jo Jones. The interplay between these musicians is of a very high level, despite the fact that
most selections on this cd are restricted to three or four minutes. Teddy plays with all the qualities as he did in the late thirties and early forties, but the rough edges are gone now. Highlights on the cd are: I Got Rhythm, Limehouse Blues and Blues For Daryl, which reminds us of the Just A Mood-session of the late thirties with Red Norvo and Harry James.
The recordings are in mono, the sound is excellent. This is a
vintage Teddy Wilson in his second youth !"
SWING IS HERE !!!
JEAN-MARIE JUIF | BESANCON France | 01/11/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Art Tatum one said,"I wish I could play like Teddy Wilson".
This gentleman surely never received such a mark of admiration and respect.
Teddy Wilson.He was responsible for these outstanding short piano choruses in Billie's thirties recordings.Then he was with Buck Clayton,or Ben Webster,or Coleman Hawkins,or...
He was just one of the most amazing jazz piano players of all times.Just a genius.He had a very personnal way of making the most simple tunes swing.He could have made a masterpiece with the worth tune.
HE SWINGS.
And just like few musicians did.In this CD,recorded in 1956,he plays with two major musicians,bassist Gene Ramey,and the absolute King od drums, Jo Jones,the greatest drummer in the jazz history.I'm sure you'll be amazed by Jo's brushes.
Brushes.Who is a master of these things now ? Jonathan Jones was.
The greatest. Nobody ever swang like him on drums. He began as a tap dancer,and this is obvious in his playing.
What is there to say about Teddy Wilson's playing ? Nothing,except that he swings like mad,all through the tunes."Sunny side of the street","Say it isn't so"(one of the most magnificent ballads ever written),"As time goes by"(so long,Humphrey),or the superlative interpretation of "All of me",these four tunes are mastepieces.By the way,they were all sung by Billie.Do you know that terrific version of "All of me",recorded by Billie on March 21,1941 ? This is one of the greatest masterpieces of the jazz history.It includes a surrealistic tenor sax solo by Lester Young,one of the most magnificent things ever recorded,an incredible break of some twenty seconds;twenty seconds of the most indispensable music ever recorded.
BUt let's go back to Teddy Wilson's record.He made superlative sessions for Verve in the fifties,but this one is,acoording to me,the best one.Moreover,this is a gigantic piano session,the kind of music you'll listen and listen and listen to for days.And not only for Wilson,but also for Jo Jones' terrific drums.If you like drummers who play brushes,then you'll treasure this record.Don't miss it,the music here is really great."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1