Search - Booker Little, Booker Ervin :: Sounds of the Inner City

All Music Guide Review

09/29/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For the guy who wants a real critic's take on this album-
"Two masters of hard bop, trumpeter Booker Little and tenor saxophonist Booker Ervin, square off on this 1960 session reissued by Collectables as Sounds of the Inner City. This date has been released under various titles over the years since its original inception as Teddy Charles' New Directions Quartet Featuring Booker Little and Booker Ervin. Most of the material is straight-ahead bop under the leadership of vibraphonist Teddy Charles with Mal Waldron on piano, Addison Farmer on bass, and Ed Shaunesssy on drums. This is a noteworthy reissue considering that there are so few instances of Little's lyrical trumpet style and Ervin's passionate tenor recorded together. Original compositions include Ervin's "Scoochie," Little's "The Confined Few" and "Witch Fire," Shaunessy's "Blues de Tambour," pianist Ahmad Jamal's "Cycles," plus the standard "Stardust" (receiving an especially melancholy treatment.) The only complaint is the lack of liner notes, which excludes information on personnel and session history." - Al Campbell"

Personnel

Zoot | New England | 05/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here's the missing personnel: Teddy Charles New Directions Quartet : Booker Little (tp) Booker Ervin (ts) Teddy Charles (vib) Mal Waldron (p) Addison Farmer (b) Ed Shaughnessy (d)



This was originally released as 'Jazz in the Garden', a live date at MOMA recorded in August 1960. Ervin and Little sat out one number on the original which isn't included in this release.



'Witch Fire' comes from a different date with this personnel: Booker Little, Don Ellis (tp) Curtis Fuller (tb) Teddy Charles (vib-1) Mal Waldron (p) Addison Farmer (b) Ed Shaughnessy, Philly Joe Jones (d) Willie Rodriguez (cga)"

Why has no tragic jazz lothario reviewed this great record ?

Clem Kadiddlehopper | Earth's molten core | 08/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've listened to alot of Booker Little lately, and this is easily the least complex and most high-spirited of my recent listens. There's a sublime version of "Stardust" with Booker Ervin providing just the right texture. I'd enjoy a "supposed" critic's take on this record, please."