Al Cohn was something special, a gem among musicians. Writer, arranger, performer, leader, he was one of those rare creative artists gifted with unlimited imagination and technical resources, with magnificent taste and an unerring insight into the expressiveness of East Coast jazz. In the 50s, the personnel he assembled for the four sessions that make up this CD often relaxed in Charlies Tavern, a congenial watering hole on Broadway across from Birdland, the jazz corner of the world. Despite slight personnel changes, each group was power-packed and, unlike many such outfits, married outstanding individuality to collective cohesiveness. With them, Cohn emphatically demonstrated the all embracing brilliance of the many-faceted talents that earned him the title Mr. Music.
Tracklist
Total time: 60:51 min.
01. Inside Out (Al Cohn) 6:45
02. Autumn Leaves (Al Cohn) 6:05
03. Serenade For Kathy (Al Cohn) 6:57
04. Move (Denzil Best) 7:16
05. Never Never Land (Styne-Comden-Green) 5:29
06. Something For Lisa (Al Cohn) 6:26
07. Count Every Star (Coquatrix-Gallop) 3:06
08. La Ronde (Cochran-Strauss) 2:45
09. Breakfast With Joe (John Carisi) 4:06
10. This Reminds Me Of You (Ralph Burns) 3:12
11. Cabin In The Sky (Duke-Latouche) 3:04
12. Lullaby Of Birdland (George Shearing) 2:20
13. Cohn My Way (Manny Albam) 2:56
Album details
Sources:
Tracks #1-3, from the album "East Coast-West Coast Scene" (RCA Victor LJM-1020)
Tracks #4-11 & 13, from the album "Mr. Music" (RCA Victor LJM-1024)
Track #12, from the album "Lullaby of Birdland" (RCA Victor LJM-1146)
Personnel on #1-3:
Al Cohn (ts); Joe Newman (tp); Billy Byers; Eddie Bert (tb); Hal McKusick; Gene Quill (as); Sol Schlinger (bs); Sanford Gold (p); Billy Bauer (g); Milt Hinton (b); Osie Johnson (d).
Recorded in New York City, October 26, 1954
Personnel on #4-5:
Same personnel, but Frank Rehak, trombone, replaces Eddie Bert.
Recorded in New York City, December 22, 1954
Personnel on #6-8:
Same personnel, but Jimmy Raney, guitar, replaces Billy Bauer.
Recorded in New York City, December 23, 1954
Personnel on #9-13:
Al Cohn (ts); Joe Newman (tp); Billy Byers (tb); Gene Quill (as); Sol Schlinger (bs); Sanford Gold (p); Buddy Jones (b); Osie Johnson (d).
Recorded in New York City, December 23, 1954
Arrangements by Al Cohn, except #9 by Johnny Carisi, #10 by Ralph Burns, and #13 by Manny Albam.
Original recordings produced by Jack Lewis
Produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol
