Al Cohn

This CD contains sides made by three different groupings of reedmen and rhythm section. The usual big band section, as featured in group one, gets a fine sound and offers Al Cohn and Gene Quill a framework for some excellent soloing. John Williams is heard from, too, with his solidly swinging piano style.

The second grouping, with a woodwind instrumentation lends a different coloration to the section. Peanuts Hucko is featured on clarinet, Phil Bodner plays good flute, and Boomie Richman sounds great on bass clarinet.

The third set has three tenors and a baritone. A “Four Brothers” sound with Al and Zoot soloing and Hank Jones playing really lovely piano—tasty, clean, and swinging—behind them and on his own solos. As an experiment in the various shapes a sax section can be drawn in, this was a very successful project.

Tracklisting:

01. Shazam (Cohn) 2:54
02. The Mellow Side (Cohn) 2:34
03. Shutout (Cohn) 2:42
04. Double Fracture (Cohn) 2:45
05. While My Lady Sleeps (Kahn-Kaper) 3:12
06. Shorty George (Gibson-Basie) 2:48
07. The Return of the Redhead (Cohn) 3:27
08. Villa Rowboats (Cohn) 2:22
09. Solsville (Cohn) 3:22
10. Don’t Worry ‘bout Me (Koehler-Bloom) 3:38
11. Blues for the High Brow (Cohn) 5:52
12. Tears by Me Out the Heart (Cohn) 4:26

Total time: 38:43 min.

Originally issued in LP as Epic LN 3278.

Personnel on #1,4,9 & 12:
Sam Marowitz, Gene Quill (as), Al Cohn, Eddie Wasserman (ts), Sol Schlinger (bs), Johnny Williams (p), Milt Hinton (b) and Osie Johnson (d).
Recorded in New York City, on May 24, 1956.

Personnel on #3,5,8 & 10:
Romeo Penque (cl, as, oboe, English horn), Phil Bodner (fl, cl), Peanuts Hucko (cl), Boomie Richman (bcl), Charlie O’Kane (fl, bcl), Johnny Williams (p), Milt Hinton (b) and Don Lamond (d).
Recorded in New York City, on June 5, 1956.

Personnel on #2,6,7 & 11:
Al Cohn, Eddie Wasserman, Zoot Sims (ts), Sol Schlinger (bs), Hank Jones (p), Milt Hinton (b) and Don Lamond (d).
Recorded in New York City, on June 28, 1956.