Personnel:
Phineas Newborn Jr. (p), Calvin Newborn (g), Oscar Pettiford, George Joyner (b), Kenny Clarke, Denzil Best (d)
Reference: JB 517
Bar code: 8436019585177
This digipak release contains the complete albums Here Is Phineas (1956) and Fabulous Phineas (1958) by the incomparable and underrated pianist Phineas Newborn Jr.
The former LP - which have been long time only available in Japan on limited edition - marks the pianists first extended release and includes his first piano solo recordings, in addition to tracks in a trio and quartet setting.
Tracklisting:
01. Barbados
02. All The Things You Are
03. The More I See You
04. Celia
05. Dahoud
06. Newport Blues
07. Im Beginning To See The Light
08. Afternoon In Paris
09. Sugar Ray
10. Whats New?
11. Pa-mela
12. 45º Angle
13. No Moon At All
14. Ill Remember April
15. Cherokee
16. Back Home
Total time: 78:26 min.
Tracks #1-8 from "Here Is Phineas - The Piano Artistry of Phineas Newborn Jr." (Atlantic LP 1235).
Tracks #9-16 from "Fabulous Phineas" (RCA PM 1873).
Personnel on tracks #1-8: Phineas Newborn Jr. (p), Calvin Newborn (g on #1,2,5 & 8), Oscar Pettiford (b) and Kenny Clarke (d). Recorded in New York City, on May 3 & 4, 1956.
Personnel on tracks #9-16: Phineas Newborn Jr. (p), Calvin Newborn (g), George Joyner (b) and Denzil Best (d). Recorded in New York City, on March 28 & April 3, 1958.
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Notes:
-Here Is Phineas
"Other than two numbers cut for the Progressive label in Houston a couple years earlier (and thus far never reissued), this Atlantic session was the recording debut for the remarkable Phineas Newborn. The 24-year-old pianist's playing on this trio/quartet date with bassist Oscar Pettiford and drummer Kenny Clarke (and occasionally guitarist Calvin Newborn) is virtuosic to say the least, on Oscar Peterson's level if not Art Tatum's. Newborn rips through the repertoire (which is highlighted by "Barbados," "Celia," "Daahoud," and "Afternoon in Paris"); try to tap your foot to "Celia" without breaking your ankle! [...]. This is a dazzling debut from an ill-fated but classic pianist, and this CD is a gem."
-Fabulous Phineas
"This is a high level set, a quartet date (with guitarist Calvin Newborne, bassist George Joyner, and drummer Denzil Best) that puts the focus on the leader's brilliant piano playing. In fact, these versions of "Cherokee" and "What's New" are unaccompanied piano solos; other highlights include "No Moon at All" and "I'll Remember April."
Both by Scott Yanow -All Music Guide
"In his prime, he was one of the three greatest jazz pianists of all time, right up there with Bud Powell and Art Tatum."
Leonard Feather
