One of my favorite CD's of all time (I have 7K Jaz LP's/CD's
C. Katz | Peoples Republic Of Massachussettes | 05/28/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you do a poll of greatest saxophone players of all time Charlie Rouse is likely not to pop up on the list.It may be that during his start in late 50's there so many giants that sucked up the space and attention.But more likely was the fact that he was Thelonius Monk's last and longest serving sideman (and given who Monk played with from Sony Rollins or John Coltrane he played with the best).Yet when I ran a a jazz CD section at a Hifi shop for six years and a new customer came in I would have a few CD's to lay on them so they knew I had my stuff toigether (the other was a trio recoding by Eddie Higgins the piano player who came out with phenomenal trio CD called "Haunted Heart" but thjat's another review).Almost 100% came back raving about this CD and then were putty in my hands from there on.
Charlie Rouse didn't have too many LP's as a leader but before Monk and after (up to the band named after Monk called "Sphere) yet these two were his best.In a way he reminds me of of Stan Getz no because they played in similar fashion but because Getz's nickname was "The Tone".But Getz was much more a Lester Young follower whereas Charlie Rouse had that balance of Prez and Coleman Hawkins.But like Getz his tone was so pure and beautiful.And his phrasing was precise when it was a blues he was blues and when it called for more of a hard bop phrasing he did it all.This CDF combines a full LP put out on Epic called "Yeah!" (an original LP will set you back $300+ in good condition) and half and LP he shared with Seldon Powell (another under recognized great).The CD stars with the shared LP session from 1961 with the excellent Gildo Mahones on keys,Regie Workman on bass,and Art Taylor on drums playing "When Sunny Get's Blue".Second cut "Billy's Blues"is from the 1960 "Yeah!" session and has Billy Gardner on piano,Peck Morrison on Bass and Dave Bailey on drums.From the same session it's followed by "Stella By Starlight","Lil Rousin","There Is No Greater Love".Next is "Quarter Moon","I Should Care" from the 1961 "Dues" session.Last we return to the 1960 session with "Rouse's Point" and "You Don't Know What Love Is".The music is the defintion of well crafter hard bop yet on the standards (mostly slower tempo number) played with a bluesy feeling that just can't help but stir your emotions.Rouse's catalog IMHO only had one glitch surprisingly a failed concept Lp for Blue Note called Bossa Nova Bacchanal" but this and everything he touched (he did a great late Lp called "Epistrophy" and his last session was "Soul Mates" with the great Baritonist Sihab Shihab (also his last session in 1988 I believe on Uptown- well they went out with a roar) just about everything done by Rouse including 4 "Sphere" LP's were just wonderful.But this CD is one if you look through my 100+ reviews is one I hope you just hit upon and buy on faith.If a lover of straight ahead jazz and just plain beauty it's go it all."
Charlie rouse is a national treasure
Timothy A. Quale | Ogden, Utah | 08/20/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Awe inspiring work by Rouse! I have no idea why more of his stuff isn't available."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1