Search - Tiny Bradshaw :: Great Composer

Tiny Who?

Brian B. Madden | Woodstock, New York United States | 05/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tiny Bradshaw was a most unuual bandleader; he neither played, nor sang, he just fronted his band. It wasn't until the legendary tenor saxist Red Prysock joined him that Tiny made it big in the R&B world. The stomping, driving, energy of Red came though like a locomotive run wild, though completely on track. Prysock, the brother of singer Arthur, was the best of the Jump Tenor school, coming out of the stylings of Illinois Jacquet. Though his name is not featured on this album, Red IS the album. As a tenor saxophonist inspired by Mr. Prysock, I cannot help but notice how hip he was playing nearly 50-years ago, and how fresh and saucy he continues to sound today. Nobody has ever come close, though Sil Austin made a worthy challenge. Those who know R&B and the tenor sax, must bow to the Mighty Red One, for he alone was the cookingest mother out there. Or as I once told Muhammed Ali, "You are the most interesting interview of all time.." So, too, does that apply to Red Prysock, the swingingest tenor of all time."