AVID Jazz continues with its Three Classic Albums plus series with a re-mastered 2CD release from John Handy III, complete with original artwork, liner notes and personnel details.
This release contains two hard to find and pretty expensive John Handy III albums “In The Vernacular” and “No Coast Jazz” plus for the first time on CD we are pleased to present the classic John Handy album “Jazz”. Plus all but one track from the Charles Mingus album “Ah Hum” featuring the mighty John Handy III on alto sax.
It’s always good to feature a living legend in our Classic Albums series and here we are honouring alto sax giant John Handy III. John Handy came up in the 1950s playing with Charles Mingus on a number of his classic albums of the period including “Mingus Dynasty”, “Blues & Roots” and “Ah Hum” from which we feature all but one track on our Three Classic Albums Plus release. Primarily known as an alto sax player, Handy was also proficient on tenor and baritone sax, saxello, clarinet and oboe. On our selections from the late 1950s and early 1960s on Roulette, Handy is heard as leader in both Quartet and Quintet formations. His most acclaimed album came in the mid sixties with his performance at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1966 and he went on to release many fine albums for labels such as Columbia, Impulse and Warner Bros. Heard supporting Handy here are the likes of Richard Williams, Roland Hanna, George Tucker, Roy Haynes, Shafi Hadi, Walter Bishop Jr; Don Friedman, Bill Lee, Lex Humphries, Booker T Ervin, Horace Parlan Jr, and Dannie Richmond
Check out :- James Moody (AMSC1261), Lou Donaldson (AMSC1251), Jackie McLean (AMSC1288 & 1043), Johnny Hodges (AMSC1040 & 999), Ornette Coleman (AMSC1108), Cannonball Adderley (AMSC1022), Benny Carter (AMSC1353 & 1048), Buddy Collette (AMSC1186), Eric Dolphy (AMSC1112), Herb Geller (AMSC1221), Art Pepper (AMSC962) , Classic Alto Jazz (AMSC1292).
CD1
1-8: ‘In The Vernacular’
1. I’ll Close My Eyes
2. First Time
3. Suggested Line
4. Problem Too
5. Quote, Unquote
6. Blues In The Vernacular
7. Dance To The Lady
8. I’ll Never Smile Again
9-14: ‘Jazz’
9. From Bird
10. Blues For M.F.
11. East Of The Sun (West Of The Moon)
12. No Smiles Please
13. Strugglin’
14. Afternoon Outing
CD2
1-6: ‘No Coast Jazz’
1. To Randy
2. Tales Of Paradise
3. Boo’s Ups And Downs
4. Hi Number
5. Prettyside Avenue
6. No Coast
7. Better Git It In Your Soul from Mingus Ah Hum
8. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat from Mingus Ah Hum
9. Boogie Stop Shuffle from Mingus Ah Hum
10. Self-Portrait In Three Colors from Mingus Ah Hum
11. Bird Calls from Mingus Ah Hum
12. Fables Of Faubus from Mingus Ah Hum
13. Pussy Cat Dues from Mingus Ah Hum
14. Jelly Roll from Mingus Ah Hum
