AVID Jazz here presents four classic Al Cohn albums as leader and sideman including original LP liner notes on a finely re-mastered and low priced double CD.
Four albums with one common denominator, Al Cohn on tenor sax and clarinet. Born in Brooklyn, Cohn, having heard Lester Young took up the tenor sax and in his formative years had played with among others Joe Marsala, Georgie Auld, Buddy Rich, Artie Shaw and Elliot Lawrence. We begin with “Cohn On The Saxophone” where Al is joined by some old buddies, Hank Jones, Osie Johnson and Milt Hinton for a “relaxed sociable affair”…………..”an informal blowing session that makes you want to dance”………….well?? don’t just sit there!! For “Freddie Green Mr Rhythm” legendary Basie rhythm guitarist Freddie Green takes centre stage as both player and composer of eight out of the twelve songs featured. Freddie is joined on this 1955 set by our hero Al Cohn alongside Joe Newman, Henry Coker, Nat Pierce, Milt Hinton and sharing the drumstool, Osie Johnson and Jo Jones. Our next album “The Jazz Workshop – Four Brass, One Tenor….Al Cohn” represents somewhat of a first in the jazz cannon, that is to say that it was the first album to feature a FOUR trumpet line up, put in place to “make a unique and effective cushion for tenor saxophone”. The trumpets are used more for “sectional work and background support” rather than a ferocious battle of the trumpets!! So let’s hear what Joe Newman, Thad Jones, Joe Wilder and Nick Travis have come up with as they take it in turns to accompany the wonderful with Mr Cohn and friends. Finally we have “A Mellow Bit Of Rhythm ..Andy Kirk And His Clouds Of Joy” Here Al is one of 17 jazzmen joining legendary Kansas City bandleader and arranger Andy Kirk and his Clouds of Joy. The tunes have been selected by Andy Kirk from his extensive twenty years of experience, the arrangements expanded and embellished to make them more contemporary without losing the feel of the old arrangements. Musicians involved include, alongside Al Cohn, Conte Candoli, Ray Copeland, Joe Newman, Freddie Green, Milt Hinton and Kenny Kersey.
All four albums plus have been digitally re-mastered for probably the finest ever sound quality!
CD1
1-10: ‘Cohn On The Saxophone’
1. We Three
2. Idaho
3. The Things I Love
4. Singing The Blues
5. Be Loose
6. When Day Is Done
7. Good Old Blues
8. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise
9. Abstract Of You
10. Blue Lou
11-22: ‘Mr Rhythm’
11. Up In The Blues
12. Down For Double
13. Back And Forth
14. Free And Easy
15. Learnin’ The Blues
16. Feed Bag
17. Something’s Gotta Give
18. Easy Does It
19. Little Red
20. Swinging Back
21. A Date With Ray
22. When You Wish Upon A Star
CD2
1-12: ‘The Jazz Workshop’
1. Rosetta
2. The Song Is Ended
3. Linger Awhile
4. Every Time
5. Haroosh
6. Just Plain Sam
7. I’m Coming Virginia
8. Cohn Not Cohen
9. A Little Song
10. Foggy Water
11. Sugar Cohn
12. Alone Together
12-24: ‘A Mellow Bit Of Rhythm’
13. A Mellow Bit Of Rhythm
14. Little Joe From Chicago
15. McGhee Special
16. Hey Lawdy Mama
17. Cloudy
18. Froggy Bottom
19. Wednesday Night Hop
20. Walkin’ And Swingin’
21. Scratchin’ In The Gravel
22. Toadie Toddle
23. Take It And Git
24. Boogie Woogie Cocktail
25. Them There Eye From Modern Jazz Festival
