The Complete Unedited 'Sweets at the Haig' 1953 Recordings

The issuing of this CD is an important event, as it puts together for the first time all the music know to have been recorded the night Harry Edison fronted his quartet at the Haig.

The original LP and CD re-issues cut Arnold Ross's four chorus piano solo on "Indiana" in half. In addition, "September in the Rain" was two choruses short (one of them by Ross, one by Edison), while "This Foolish Things" had lost the second half of a solo chorus of piano.

This Fresh Sound edition puts back in all the missing choruses so everyone can enjoy the full extent of Harry Edison's mastery backed by a superlative rhythm section.

Tracklist

Album details

Press reviews

"Harry "Sweets" Edison, like his former boss Count Basie, always had the ability to say the most with the least. Every note counted in his solos and he was an expert at simplicity and infectious repetition, particularly in later years when weakening health resulted in a more limited style. Back in 1953, Edison was still just 37 and one of the major survivors of the swing era. He picked up some ideas from Dizzy Gillespie's style that fit his conception so his personal approach fell between swing and bop. His range was fairly wide and he could sound quite powerful and fluent.

This Fresh Sound reissue brings back an obscure but very worthy album from the Pacific Jazz catalog. Pianist Arnold Ross, whose most famous chorus was the one he took at a Jazz at the Philharmonic concert right before Charlie Parker on "Lady Be Good," is perfect for this setting since he plays in an advanced swing style. Bassist Joe Comfort and drummer Alvin Stoller offer steady and swinging support. The quartet performs seven familiar standards with an up-tempo "'S Wonderful," "Just You, Just Me," "Pennies From Heaven," and a cooking "Tea for Two" being particularly exciting. This set, which is reasonably well recorded for the time period, is highly recommended and a constant joy."

Scott Yanow -All Music Guide