Milt Jackson

• 180 GRAM VINYL

• 4 1/2 stars all music guide

Whenever Milt Jackson could free himself from the 'bondage' of the Modern Jazz Quartet and its assertive leader John Lewis, he dedicated himself to his two great passions: ballads and the blues. That was precisely the case when he entered the famous Rudy van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, USA in 1956. He was free to choose his sidemen, and money was no object, which is why various formations gathered in the studio for the three recording sessions. With Lucky Thompson on the tenor sax (unfortunately for only three numbers), Barry Galbraith, Barney Kessel or Skeeter Best on the guitar, Oscar Pettiford or Percy Heath on the bass, together with Kenny Clarke or Lawrence Marable on the drums, he set off on a journey through the history of jazz. John Lewis stayed unobtrusively in the background and offered 'Bags' (as Milt was known) plenty of opportunities to glory in soloistic freedom.

PERSONNEL:

• LUCKY THOMPSON. tenor sax
• MILT JACKSON, vibes
• BARNEY KESSEL, BARRY GALBRAITH, SKEETER BEST, guitar
• OSACR PETTIFORD, PERCY HEATH, bass
• KENNY CLARKE, LAWRENCE MARABLE, drums

Recorded January & February 1956 in New York City in Hackensack, New Jersey.

TRACKS:

• A1. So In Love
• A2. These Foolish Things
• A3. Solitude
• A4. The Song Is Ended
• A5. They Didn't Believe Me

• B1. How High The Moon
• B2. Gerry's Blues
• B3. Hello
• B4. Bright Blues