Search - Freddie Gambrell With Ben Tuck :: Freddie Gambrell (24bt)

'"A WESTCOAST JAZZ PIANO LEGEND!!!"

Dan Celli,X,DJ. | SAN FRANCISCO,CA | 12/19/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In 1962 at the 2 C"s bar (Mission/29th st.) The house pianist got up from his bench,and

this blind guy took his place. He blew the house down! It sounded like Oscar Peterson,

blasting away on the key's at high speed. My cousin said;"That's Freddie Gambrell!"



We would see him all over town with his wife. I had talked with him a few times.

He took the place of Merle Saunders at the Meridian (down town.S.F.) one of the times

I was there. At Bianchini's(Daly City) restaurant/bar, He brought his latin jazz band there. He was

Playing trumpet/piano. He told me he wanted to be called,Fredrico Cervantes.

As a pianist,Freddie was,bold,fast,block chord's,arpeggio's,tremelo's etc.

He works over the upper register like ,Garland or Jamal. Clean clear notes. Like a

string of pearls. He was a strong 2 handed piano player. (B 1936 d 2004.)

Check his blog. He also is a fine Nat Cole type singer.

Songs are;"Falling in love with love","When I fall in love","Stompin"at the Savoy," "Yesterdays" ,"Any thing go's" "Without a song" + 6 more. In Downbeat, his 1st album with Chico hamilton Got 3.1/2 star's. In a blindfold test,Terry Gibbs said "He's a young guy trying to prove him self." And he did. I'm trying to get that 1st album; Chico Hamilton introduces Freddie Gambrell.

I owned both albums way back when. So, I know what I'm paying for here. 37 minutes of some hard swingin' jazz piano with Ben tucker on bass. Since I received this cd 2 day's ago,I've played it 6 times.

By the way,another jazz pianist that's a west coast LIVING legend is, Larry Vucavich. Get his 4 1/2 star (DOWNBEAT)

solo piano cd;"Deja Vuk". I really wanted to give gambrell 4 1/2 star's....and so I will. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I GOT THE LP WITH CHICO. AND THIS ONE WITH JUST BEN TUCKER IS A STAR BETTER. 1/6/2009."