Album Reviews

Reminiscent of what Carl Jefferson was doing at Concord back in the 1970’s, this reissue of a French Black and Blue release recorded March of 1978, keeps alive the straight ahead tradition that seemed to be passing into jazz history back then.

Recorded during veteran tenor sax man Jacquet’s European tour, the set finds his quartet featuring veterans Hank Jones on piano, George Duvivier on bass and J.C. Heard on drums, meshing perfectly in a set of Jacquet originals plus Billy May’s bluesy riff “Lean Baby” and the Mercer Ellington classic “Things Ain’t What They Used to Be.”

The album title refers to Jacquet’s 80 second “Flying Home” solo recorded during a session for Decca records in 1942 that is considered one of a handful of the most influential solos in jazz history. Jacquet repeats it here, adding some new twists.

Another highlight is a soulful original ballad “You Left Me All Alone” that follows the opening romp, “Jean-Marie’s Den,” another Jacquet original.

The recording is similar to the Concord studio style of the time: fairly closely miked, probably heavily partitioned, with reverb added after the fact. The emphasis is on clarity, not atmosphere. There’s no attempt to create a realistic soundstage. Instead the drums are splayed mid-stage to stage left and the piano is larger than life, growing in size for the solos. Most importantly, Jacquet, then 56 years old, is in fine form both on the soft ballads and hard blowing numbers. The overall tonality is on the pleasingly soft and warm side, but without smothering the instruments.

Nothing earth shattering here, either sonically or musically and certainly not the sonic equivalent of Birthday Party, but a fine reissue that should please Jacquet fans who will be able to hear the veteran well-recorded and upfront in the mix, especially the re-creation of his famous solo.