Personnel:
Paul Serrano (tp), Bunky Green (as), Nicky Hill (ts), Jodie Christian, Richard Abrams (p), Don Garrett, Bob Cranshaw (b), Pete LaRoca, Walter Perkins (d)
Reference: FSRCD 664
Bar code: 8427328606646
In 1960, Paul Serrano was a young trumpet player from Chicago, with a considerable and varied experience as a sideman, mainly in his hometown jazz scene. Cannonball Adderley heard him there with this group of promising jazz musicians, and decided to record him.
The result was the album, Blues Holiday, on which Serranos quintet displays a driving, penetrating attack that was carried partly by the leaders flaring, brassy trumpet, and partly by Bunky Greens hard, lean, multitoned alto saxophone, that reflected the bands strength and potential. The rhythm section is tight and ideal, with fine solos by Jodie Christian and further bolstered by Pete LaRoca, who filled in when the quintets regular drummer was unavailable for the date.
The other album included here finds a younger Serrano when he was member of another outstanding Chicago quintet, MJT + 3; the name stands for Modern Jazz Two, and refers to bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Walter Perkins, the co-leaders, while the three are Serrano, tenor Nicky Hill, and pianist Richard Abrams. It was a strong, empathetic group and makes a fitting addition to this homage to Paul Serrano, an unsung hardbop trumpeter.
