Album Reviews

Even if this record evaporated in a cloud of smoke after one play like the "Mission Impossible" tape it would be worth buying just to hear young Clifford Brown's suave take on the ballad "Easy Living", reproduced with such graceful authority on this double 45—especially if your previous reference was either the CD or the 1974 UA/ Blue Note compilation Brownie Eyes (BN-LA267G), which was all I've previously had. 

Even if this record evaporated in a cloud of smoke after one play like the "Mission Impossible" tape it would be worth buying just to hear young Clifford Brown's suave take on the ballad "Easy Living", reproduced with such graceful authority on this double 45—especially if your previous reference was either the CD or the 1974 UA/ Blue Note compilation Brownie Eyes (BN-LA267G), which was all I've previously had. 

Good luck finding and/or affording the two original 10" Blue Notes  recorded and released in 1953 or the posthumous single LP of BLP 1526 that combined the two ( Brown died in a June, 1956 car accident a few months shy of his 26th birthday). By then he'd recorded later sessions with drummer Max Roach that are considered even more essential.

Even originals of this 12 incher still sell for $500+, so that makes this double 45 that I suspect will sound better (certainly much quieter at the very least!), a genuine bargain. 

Session two, recorded August 23rd 1953 at WOR Studios in New York has Brown backed by the rhythm section of John Lewis, Percy Heath and Art Blakey with Gigi Gryce on alto sax and flute and Charlie Rouse on tenor. Session one recorded at Audio Video Studios in New York June 9th, 1953 features Lou Donaldson on alto, Elmo Hope on piano, Percy Heath on bass and "Philly" Joe Jones on drums.

The album's running order puts the second session first. Both dates produced fast paced, hair-pin turn bop with Brown taking explosive charge and producing blunt yet full and curvaceous lines as well as exquisite, breathtaking balladry. 

Listen to Lou Donaldson's "Cookin'" on side 4 and if you're of a certain age you'll realize that most of the television theme song writers from the 1950s were frustrated or failed be-boppers who ended up earning a living by toning down bop-style riffs and making theme safe for middle America.

Brown and Donaldson take a gorgeously complex turn on the standard "You Go to My Head" and the album closes with a frenetic "Carving the Rock." Brown lived on in the phrasing and tonality of many younger players like Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard but this gives you Brown himself accompanied by only greats.

As for the recording quality, it's much better than you might be thinking given the dates. Brown's trumpet is particularly well-captured, with plenty or studio space surrounding it. Whether or not Van Gelder engineered, I'm not sure, but the overall sound is clean, direct and not bathed in echo. This release is just made for a great mono cartridge, but don't let that stop you if you only have stereo!