The Jazz Brothers was an amazing band considering it was formed by a group of youngsters that Cannonball Adderley introduced on Riverside Records in 1960.
Just how amazing can be gauged from the fact that several subsequently became major figures in their own right. The bands youthful brashness was combined with considerable sensitivity in its search for a group sound, reminiscent in some ways of the Jazz Messengers or the Horace Silver quintet. The group used a powerful approach and sustained it remarkably well, with clean, crisp ensembles, vigorous and brightly voiced.
Trumpeter Chuck Mangione, at only 19, already possessed a lovely tone and an innate, relaxed sense of phrasing. Sal Nistico, 20, already a very forceful musician, contributes consistenly interesting solos. Brother Gap Mangione, 22, is a strong, prodding accompanist and arranger. Altoist Larry Coombs, 20, is only heard in the first album, The Mangione Brothers Sextet, on which he solos with guts and fits very well in the front line with Chuck and Sal. Throughout, bassists and drummers on each date were well integrated and driving, and Roy McCurdy was already developing into a dynamic drum soloist.
In 1961 two more albums by The Jazz Brothers followed. Hey Baby!, and Spring Fever, were both quintet sessions, and the last before the group disbanded. They left a legacy of a fine group whose skills and authority belied its astonishingly youthful personnel.
Tracklist
Total time: 125:00 min.
CD 1
01. Something Different (Chuck Mangione) 6:06
02. Secret Love (Webster-Fain) 6:33
03. Alice (Gap Mangione) 6:15
04. Struttin with Sandra (Chuck Mangione) 4:01
05. Nemesis (Larry Combs) 5:02
06. The Gap (Gap Mangione) 5:14
07. Girl of My Dreams (Sunny Clapp) 6:02
08. Hey Baby (Chuck Mangione) 4:07
09. Bags Groove (Milt Jackson) 4:50
10. The Night Has a Thousand Eyes (Bernier-Brainin) 6:10
11. Givin the Business (Frank Pullara) 6:27
Time: 61:45 min.
CD 2
01. Whats Happnin (Sal Nistico) 4:23
02. Just You, Just Me (Greer-Klages) 4:50
03. Old Folks (Lee-Robison) 6:54
04. The Bassett Sound (Chuck Mangione) 6:20
05. First Waltz Riv (Frank Pullara) 7:08
06. Whats New? (Burke-Haggart) 5:47
07. Spring Fever (Chuck Mangione) 7:01
08. Brooks Brothers (Chuck Mangione) 5:18
09. Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise (Hammerstein-Romberg) 9:13
10. Not Too Serious (Frank Pullara) 5:59
Album details
Original sources:
CD 1, tracks #1-7 from the album "The Jazz Brothers" (Riverside RLP-9335)
CD 1, tracks #8-11 & CD 2, tracks #1-4 from the album "Hey Baby!" (RLP-9371)
CD 2, tracks #5-10 from the album "Spring Fever" (Riverside RLP-9405)
Personnel on 'The Jazz Brothers':
Chuck Mangione, trumpet; Larry Coombs, alto sax; Sal Nistico, tenor sax; Gap Mangione, piano; Bill Saunders, bass; Roy McCurdy, drums.
Recorded at Bell Sound Studios, in New York City, on August 8 & 29, 1960
Personnel on 'Hey Baby!':
Chuck Mangione, trumpet; Sal Nistico, tenor sax; Gap Mangione, piano; Steve Davis, bass; Roy McCurdy, drums.
Plaza Sound Studios, New York City, March 8, 1961
Personnel on 'Spring Fever':
Chuck Mangione, trumpet; Sal Nistico, tenor sax; Gap Mangione, piano; Frank Pullara, bass; Vinnie Ruggiero, drums.
Recorded at Plaza Sound Studios, New York City; on November 28, 1961
Original recordings produced by Cannonball Adderley (CD-1, #1-7) and Orrin Keepnews
Cover art by Lawrence Shustack & Ken Deardoff
Compiled for CD release by Jordi Pujol
Stereo · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered
