Booker Ervin – The Blues Book

AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

For this CD reissue in his series of Books, Ervin and his quintet (with trumpeter Carmell Jones, pianist Gildo Mahones, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Alan Dawson) perform four very different blues: the speedy "One for Mort," a low-down "No Booze Blooze," the modal "True Blue," and the minor-toned "Eerie Dearie." The consistently passionate Ervin makes each of the fairly basic originals sound fresh and the performances are frequently exciting inside/outside music.

Booker Ervin
The Blues Book Prestige PR 7340 Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo US 1965 SIDE A: 00:00 A1 Eerie Dearie 14:27 A2 One For Mort SIDE B: 20:48 B1 No Booze Blues 36:12 B2 True Blue All selections composed by Booker Ervin Bass – Richard Davis Drums – Alan Dawson Piano – Gildo Mahones Tenor Saxophone – Booker Ervin Trumpet – Carmell Jones Recorded in Englewood Cliffs, NJ; June 30, 1964.