Eddie Lockjaw Davis (1922-1985) has always been one of the super top tenor players in jazz. From the beginning he had his unique sound and way to improvise, and an original, immediately identifiable tenor tone. This CD is special for several reasons. The first part is a session that Count Basie produced in 1957 for Lockjaw with another Basie alumnus, the great trumpeter Joe Newman. What makes this album unusually interesting is that Basie plays the piano while Shirley Scott plays the organ. To complete this CD, a special compilation has been added eight little-known recordings of tunes when Basie was featuring Lockjaw in his big band (1952-1957) which show that the pair were simply destined for each other musically in one of the historic comings-together in jazz.
Tracklist
Total time: 71:17 min.
01. Broadway
02. Farouk
03. Telegraph
04. Dont Blame Me
05. Marie
06. A Misty One
07. Save Your Love For Me
08. Lock-Up
09. Street Of Dreams
10. Swingin Until The Girls Come Home
11. Jack And Jill *
12. Bread *
13. Paradise Squad *
14. Bootsie *
15. Blues For The Count And Oscar *
16. Fancy Meeting You *
17. Little Pony *
18. Whirly Bird *
Album details
(*) Bonus Tracks
Tracks #1-4, 6-7, 9-10 from the 12" album "Count Basie Presents The Eddie Davis Trio + Joe Newman" (Roulete SR-52007).
Track #5 from the 12" Roulette/Vogue LDM-30123.
Track #8 not in the original album.
Tracks #11-15 taken from the 12" album "Paradise Squat" (Verve VE2-2542).
Tracks #16-17 from radio broadcast, live at Birdland, New York City.
Track #18 from radio broadcast, live at L'Olympia, Paris.
Personnel on tracks #1-10: Eddie Lockjaw Davis (ts), Count Basie (p), Shirley Scott (org), Joe Newman (tp), George Duvivier (b), Butch Ballard (d).
Recorded in New York City, December 17-19, 1957
Tracks #11-14, Count Basie & His Orchestra featuring Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis: Count Basie (p, org), Eddie Lockjaw Davis (ts), Paul Campbell, Joe Newman, Wendell Culley, Reunald Jones (tp), Henry Coker, Benny Powell, Jimmy Wilkins (tb), Marshal Royal (cl, as), Ernie Wilkins (as, ts), Paul Quinichette (ts), Charlie Fowlkes (bs), Freddie Green (g), Jimmy Lewis, Ray Brown (b) and Gus Johnson (d).
Recorded in New York City, July 22, 1952 [#11-13], July 26, 1952 [#14]
Track #15, Count Basie All-Star Septet: Paul Quinichette, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Count Basie (org), Ray Brown (b), Freddie Green (g), Gus Johnson (d).
Recorded in New York City, on July 26, 1952
Tracks #16-17, Count Basie & His Orchestra featuring Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis: Count Basie (p), Eddie Lockjaw Davis (ts), Paul Campbell, Joe Newman, Wendell Culley, Reunald Jones (tp), Henry Coker, Benny Powell, Jimmy Wilkins (tb), Marshal Royal (cl, as), Ernie Wilkins (as, ts), Paul Quinichette (ts), Charlie Fowlkes (bs), Freddie Green (g), Jimmy Lewis (b), Gus Johnson (d).
Recorded live at Birdland, New York City, July 29, 1952 [#16], July 31, 1952 [#17]
Track #18, Count Basie & His Orchestra featuring Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis: Count Basie (p), Eddie Lockjaw Davis (ts), Thad Jones, Joe Newman, Snooky Young, Wendell Culley (tp), Henry Coker, Al Grey, Benny Powell (tb), Marshal Royal (as), Frank Wess, Frank Foster (ts), Charlie Fowlkes (bs), Freddie Green (g), Eddie Jones (b) and Sonny Payne (d).
Recorded live at L'Olympia, Paris, November 12, 1957Press reviews
-Count Basie Presents...
"After recording extensively for the R&B King label during 1955-57, tenor saxophonist Eddie Lockjaw Davis made a jazz-oriented set for Roulette that was presented by Count Basie. Last put out by the French Vogue label on a 1984 LP, this set features the tough-toned tenor with organist Shirley Scott, bassist George Duvivier, drummer Butch Ballard and (on the majority of the tracks) trumpeter Joe Newman and pianist Count Basie himself. Not too surprisingly, the music swings and the mixture of swing standards (such as "Broadway" and "Street of Dreams") and basic originals bring out the best in these fine players."
Scott Yanow -All Music Guide
