Clifford Brown - Compact Jazz

Compact Jazz: Clifford Brown Review

 

by Stephen Cook

One of most enthralling bodies of work from the post-bebop years, Clifford Brown's sides for the Verve and Blue Note labels deserve a spot in every serious jazz collection. But where to start? For those wanting to just sample the goods, there are a handful of fine budget discs out there, especially on Verve; this edition of their Compact Jazz series certainly ranks high, thanks to a balanced program of the trumpeter's varied output. Mostly cut in the few years before his tragic death in 1956, the 12 tracks include some of Brown's cornerstone combo work with drummer Max Roach ("Jordu") and sideman sessions for both Sarah Vaughan ("It's Crazy") and Dinah Washington ("I've Got You Under My Skin"). Add to that a taste of Brown's lovely strings date with Neil Hefti, more vocals (this time with Helen Merrill), and the solo contributions of Sonny Rollins, Clark Terry, Harold Land, and many others. A fine overview, indeed.  AllMusic

Clifford Brown

Compact Jazz

1 The Blues Walk 00:00 2 I Get A Kick Out Of You 06:46 3 It's Crazy 14:27 4 Jordu 19:25 5 Stardust 27:14 6 Parisian Thoroughfare 30:41 7 Joy Spring 38:02 8 I'll Remember April 44:56 9 I've Got You Under My Skin 54:18 10 Daahoud 59:52 11 Yesterdays 01:03:58 12 Flossie Lou 01:10:00 Trumpet – Clifford Brown, Maynard Ferguson (tracks: 9), Clark Terry (tracks: 9) Drums – Max Roach (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 10, 12), Osie Johnson (tracks: 9), Roy Haynes (tracks: 3) Alto Saxophone – Herb Geller (tracks: 9) Bass – George Morrow (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 10, 12), Joe Benjamin (tracks: 3), Milt Hinton (tracks: 11) Flute – Herbie Mann (tracks: 3) Guitar – Barry Galbraith (tracks: 5) Piano – Jimmy Jones (3) (tracks: 3 & 11), Junior Mance (tracks: 9), Richie Powell (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 10, 12) Tenor Saxophone – Harold Land (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9. 10), Paul Quinichette (tracks: 3), Sonny Rollins (tracks: 8, 12) Vocals – Dinah Washington (tracks: 9), Helen Merrill, Sarah Vaughan (tracks: 3) Recording Dates

1- February 24,1955 in N.Y.

2 - August 5, 1954 in Los Angeles

3 - December 18, 1954 in N.Y.

4 - August 3, 1954 in Los Angeles

5 - January 18,18 or 20 1955 in N.Y.

6 - August 2 1954, in Los Angeles. 7 & 10 - August 6 1954 in Los Angeles

8 & 12- February 16, 1956 in N. Y.

9 - August 15, 1954 in Los Angeles 11 - December 22, 1954 in N.Y.