Search - Clifford Brown :: Live at the Bee Hive-Complete 1955

Much Adored Trumpeter on a Recording Date to Forget

Willie in Mickeyville | Florida | 08/23/2005

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This two-disc set arrived with great promise and is already in the garbage. My tolerance for poor recordings of seminal live jazz is ample. This turkey pushed me over the edge though. That the drums are way ahead of everything else is only the most obvious problem. The horns are under water and sputtering. I really tried to "dig" this set but it's just awful listening."

PHENOMINAL--just takes a little ATTENTIVENESS

Mike DiMartino | Rochester, NY | 09/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was simply floored when I first heard these performances. These tapes come from Max's personal collection, and they are ESSENTIAL because they feature Max, Clifford and Rollins as you'd hear them stretching out over many choruses LIVE, free of studio pressures and time restraints. Some of their solos go for well nigh 10 minutes. And there are moments, as happen only during LIVE gigs, where they "go for it" and reach incredible genius not heard on their studio recordings.



While the audio quality may be a challenge to listen to--and may require a little more than "ample tolerance"--this is spontaneous, exciting improvisation--if one would just relax, concentrate and discipline one's self to listen beyond the audio shortcomings. If you have this date, and you don't listen to it because of the audio, try it again using headphones and cut back the bass a lot. This will reduce the boominess of the drums (thus adding definition to Max's solos) and the horn solos will stand out much more clearly. For heaven's sake, try that before you take such ludicrous advice as to toss this epic, landmark music into the garbage!



Also heard is seldom-recorded guitarist Leo Blevins--his solos are an added bonus surprise.



AN ABSOLUTE MUST-HAVE."