Sonny Clark - Cool Struttin
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CD Details
Artist: Sonny ClarkEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 1999-04-20
Music Label: Blue Note Records
Soundtracks:
- Cool Struttin'
- Blue Minor
- Sippin' At Bells
- Deep Night
- Royal Flush
- Lover
Music reviews of Cool Struttin
Music Review: A Blue Note - Hard Bop Classic
Rating: 5 Stars
One day (about five years ago) I was cruising along in my car searching for something, ANYTHING, that was semi-pleasing to listen to on my car stereo. However, I was having one hell of a time finding anything decent - for it seems as if even the world of music nowadays is riddled with pollution. Alas, just as I was about to throw in the towel and settle for talk radio on AM (UGH!!! like that is any better!) I hear this jazz tune come on "Cool Struttin" and it was at that moment, because of that particular song, my love affair with jazz truly began. This album, along with about ten others (KIND OF BLUE - Miles Davis, MY FAVORITE THINGS - John Coltrane, SONG FOR MY FATHER - Horace Silver, SOMETHIN' ELSE - Cannonball Adderley etc...) was one of the first jazz albums I went out and purchased. Now of course "Cool Struttin" may not quite fall into the same category as the ones I listed above, but it's definitely, in my humble opinion, one notch right below them and still easily worthy of a five-star rating. It's recordings such as this that make me want to listen to jazz music twenty-four hours a day.
Most jazz fanatics out there probably already own this Blue Note classic. Therefore, this review is aimed more for the novice jazz fan or perhaps someone (such as I five years ago) just learning about jazz after perhaps hearing it on the radio or satellite television. Well, all I can say is you can't go wrong making this purchase! First off, you have an all-star quintet led by the smooth as silk Sonny Clark (piano), joined by Art Farmer (trumpet), Jackie McClean (alto sax), Paul Chambers (bass), and Philly Joe Jones (drums). Despite the fact that most of these cats were blasted on drugs (particularly heroin) and booze at the time, they still turned in tremendous, top-notch performances. McClean does his best Charlie Parker imitation, squawking away his solos with reckless abandon and absolutely no fear. Like Art Farmer was quoted as saying in Nat Hentoff's original liner-notes, "Jackie has a feeling in his playing that you know immediately is him. He doesn't just copy." Yes, there is no doubt McClean has is own unique, original voice and this album is one of the prime examples of that. It is also, one of his best performances ever (see SWING, SWANG, SWINGIN and ONE STEP BEYOND for two more examples).
Art Farmer may not always be talked about in the same breath as others when one is mentioning the greatest trumpet players of all-time (i.e. Louis, Dizzy, Miles, Brownie, Freddie, Lee Morgan, et al...) but he definitely is worthy of praise. I don't know if I have ever heard Art Farmer not sound great. Sure he may lack the charisma and magnetism of a Miles Davis (his main influence as a musician), but I personally love his clean, controlled, consistent style. Sonny Clark on the keys has always been one of my favorites because in many ways he is the quintessential hard bop pianist (which is my personal favorite style of jazz). By the way, does anyone else think that Clark and Tommy Flanagan are the same person at times? The way they swing, their perfect control of melody, and the way they seem to glide across the keys with a soft, unique touch. Simply sensational!
Finally, there is no amount of hyperbole I can write about Philly Joe Jones and Paul Chambers that would ever do them justice. I have never read about any other drummer in the history of jazz (Rich, Roach, Blakey, Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, etc...) that gets more compliments from his fellow musicians than Philly Joe Jones. My favorite quote was by Miles in his autobiography, "...he (Jones) knew everything I was going to do, everything I was going to play; he anticipated me, felt what I was thinking." And Paul Chambers is simply one of the top three bass players of all-time on just about every one's list, especially when it comes to hard-bop. The two of them are outstanding.
In 1963, at the early age of 31, Sonny Clark left this Earth way too soon like so many other jazz legends - Billie, Bird, Brownie, Coltrane, Jaco, LaFaro, Pettiford, Watkins, Powell, et al... I have to stop now, because I am getting depressed. However, all I have to do to start feeling good is press the play button on my stereo and once again start listening to this sensational, five-star recording.
This is one of the longest reviews I've ever written. But after all, it was that one song from this great album, that truly changed my life forever.
Description of Cool Struttin
Sonny Clark was ubiquitous at Blue Note sessions and led a handful of great albums of his own along the way. Cool Struttin' has a wonderful after-hours feel, especially on the extended title blues.1957 was a busy year for the pianist Sonny Clark. Aside from Cool Struttin', he also released six other LPs on Blue Note. His astounding output, however, was cut short due to his premature death in 1963. The highlight of Clark's prolific period must be Cool Struttin', a session featuring a virtual who's who of Blue Note's then-rising young crop of hard-bop stars. The recording opens with the aptly named title cut, as Clark's jaunty, forward-leaning piano drives the tune with crisp precision. The rest of the disc (this edition contains the Rodgers and Hart tune "Lover," which did not appear on the original release) is a sterling example of late-50s, finger-poppin' bop with the likes of trumpeter Art Farmer, saxophonist Jackie McClean, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Philly Joe Jones stretching out and digging in. --S. Duda
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