Summerwind

by Johnny Griffin, Ray Brown, Monty Alexander, Johnny Griffin Quartet, Martin Drew

Overview

Time and time again, the Manhattan Bop Police have claimed that a jazz album isn't legitimate unless it is recorded in the 212 area code. But if that's true, why did so many jazz heavyweights -- from Dexter Gordon to Bud Powell -- spend so much time living and recording in Europe? Why have so many important jazz indies (Steeplechase, Storyville, Owl, Black Lion, Timeless, among countless others) had European addresses? The fact is that if you're a serious jazz connoisseur, your CD collection is probably full of recordings that were made in Europe. Ray Brown certainly spent plenty of time performing overseas; Ludwigsburg, Germany, in fact, is where Brown recorded Summerwind, a 1980 session that finds the acoustic bassist forming a quartet with tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin (one of the reasons jazz musicians are proud to be from Chicago), pianist Monty Alexander, and British drummer Martin Drew. This hard-swinging combination of American, Jamaican, and British improvisers enjoys a strong rapport on a diverse program that ranges from Ray Charles' "Hard Times" to pianist John Lewis' "Delaunay's Dilemma" to the title track (a song that is closely identified with Frank Sinatra). The inclusion of a song associated with Ol' Blue Eyes should come as no surprise to admirers of Alexander, who has never made a secret of his passion for Sinatra's legacy. Nor has Alexander made a secret of his love of R&B; one of the highlights of this CD is a piano trio performance of the Crusaders' "Street Life" (which Griffin is absent from). Although the Crusaders are primarily an instrumental jazz group, they enjoyed a major R&B hit in 1979 when they featured singer Randy Crawford on "Street Life"; on Summerwind, however, the tune works nicely as an acoustic bop/soul-jazz instrumental. This rewarding CD is well worth searching for. ~ Alex Henderson

Product Details

Release Date:	06/07/2005
Label:	Kingston Records
UPC:	0184554260629
Rank:	128288

Tracks

1. Blues for Groundhog
2. Medley: Sophisticated Lady/Rocks in My Bed
3. Put Your Little Foot Right Out
4. Consider
5. Swamp Fire
6. Summerwind
7. Griff and Me
8. Delaunay's Dilemma
9. Thanks for the Memory
10. Hard Times
11. Woogie Boogie
12. Street Life
13. Put Your Little Foot Right Out
14. Consider
15. Street Life

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ray Brown   Primary Artist,Bass
Johnny Griffin Quartet   Primary Artist
Monty Alexander   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals
Martin Drew   Primary Artist,Drums
Johnny Griffin   Primary Artist,Saxophone

Technical Credits

Carl Albrecht   Audio Engineer
Henry Mayer   Composer
Joe Sample   Composer
Hans Bradtke   Composer
Harold Mooney   Composer
Werner Stiefele   Liner Notes
Larry Spier   Composer
Peter Maltz   Cover Design
Ralph Rainger   Composer
Ray Brown   Composer
Johnny Mercer   Composer
Carlos Albrecht   Engineer
Monty Alexander   Composer