Search - Lee Morgan;Curtis Fuller;Hank Mobley;Billy Root :: Monday Nights at Birdland

Lee Morgan;Curtis Fuller;Hank Mobley;Billy Root
Monday Nights at Birdland
Genres: Jazz, Pop

Track Listings (5) - Disc #1
1. Introduction by 'Symphony Sid'
2. Walkin'
3. All The Things You Are
4. Bag's Groove
5. There Will Never Be Another You
Track Listings (4) - Disc #2
1. It's You Or No One
2. Jamph
3. Nutville
4. Wee

CD Details

All Artists: Lee Morgan;Curtis Fuller;Hank Mobley;Billy Root
Title: Monday Nights at Birdland
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Fresh Sound Records
Original Release Date: 1/1/2009
Re-Release Date: 6/16/2009
Album Type: Live
Genres: Jazz, Pop
Style:
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPC: 8427328605373

Synopsis

Product Description

Birdland was the Mecca for most modernists of the 50s. It was the only club in New York City where a big band could play. Bookings were mostly for solid two-week periods. On Monday nights the regulars were off, and the legendary jazz disk jockey Symphony Sid (1909-1984) ran one of his jam sessions with young, upand-coming, cutting edge local musicians. Anything could happen and frequently did, as these outstanding performances, recorded on two consecutive Monday nights, on April 21 and 28 1958, show. Anyone who was anyone in 50s jazz was introduced by Symphony Sid at Birdland. Here Lee Morgan, not yet 20, gives notice of his exceptional talent, his trumpet clear, biting and full-toned. Trombonist Curtis Fuller, with his unique, French Horn-like sound, shows his flowing conception and great dynamic range. On tenor, Hank Mobley is all ease and authority, while Billy Root swings mightily. And the rhythm section drives them with strength and sensitivity throughout these invigoratingly cohesive blowing sessions by some of the stellar talents of the era.

CD Reviews

Monday night and now every night

Robin Benson | 03/10/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Until I bought this set recently I hadn't heard these tracks for at least forty-five years or so. I had the original Roulette LPs and played them into the ground and back in those days there was no internet to scour the world for replacement copies.

It must have been some night at Birdland on April 21 and 28, 1958 because the quality of the performances is outstanding. Every one gets to shine especially Lee Morgan (who was only twenty at the time) on 'All the things you are', 'Walkin', 'Jamph' and 'Wee'. Hank Mobley plays a stunning solo on 'There will never be another you', it really is quite electric. Curtis Fuller swings with his solo on 'All the things you are'. Ray Bryant is his usual swinging self and drummer Specs Wright keeps everything cooking.

The eight tracks are medium and up-tempo and I thought the recording quality impressive with a good solid depth to all the tracks (was Rudy Van Gelder there?). The one annoyance is that there is only eight-eight minutes because this stuff is so good you don't want it to end!

Toe-tapping quotient = 10/10+

"

Top Notch Bop Blowing Session

Michael L. Slavin | New Jersey | 06/03/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a most enjoyable blowing session with plenty of extended solos by all participants. I thank Fresh Sound for making it once again available. Wish we had these kinds of sounds today."