Al Grey

Featuring: Joe Newman (tp), Al Grey, Benny Powell (tb), Billy Mitchell (ts), Charlie Fowlkes (bs); Floyd Morris (p), Freddie Green (g), Ed Jones (b), Sonny Payne (d)

These two albums, under the leadership of trombonist Al Grey, were recorded while he was a member of Count Basie’s band. With the exception of the pianists, the men assembled to play in these sessions were all well known Basie-ites. All the charts share a spare, functional approach ideal for the three brass-two saxes instrumentation. The arrangements delve cleanly and right to the heart of swinging. Grey, famed for his plunger mute work, plays vigorously and inventively.

Both groups—an octet and a nonet—display that warm, moving blues feeling that characterized the Basie band, with all the soloists blowing with sure-footed intensity alongside the tastefully swinging leader.

Tracklisting:

01. Things Ain’t What They Used to Be
02. Open Wider, Please
03. I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good
04. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore
05. How Come You Do Me Like You Do
06. Bluish Grey
07. The Elder
08. Bewitched
09. Kenie-Konie
10. Salty Papa
11. Don’t Cry Baby
12. Stranded
13. Tenderly
14. Rompin’
15. King Bee
16. When I Fall in Love
17. Al-Lamo

Total time: 69:00 min.

Original sources:

Tracks #1-9 from the album "The Last Of The Big Plungers" (Argo LP 653).

Tracks #10-17 from the album "The Thinking Man's Trombone" (Argo LP 677).

Personnel on "The Last Of The Big Plungers" Al Grey Octet: Joe Newman (tp), Al Grey, Benny Powell (tb), Billy Mitchell (ts), Charlie Fowlkes (bs), Floyd Morris (p), Ed Jones (b) and Sonny Payne (d).

Recorded at Ter-Mar Recording Studios, Chicago, September 25 & 28, 1959.

Personnel on "The Thinking Man's Trombone" Al Grey Nonet: Joe Newman (tp), Al Grey, Benny Powell (tb); Billy Mitchell (ts), Charlie Fowlkes (bs); Freddie Green (g), Billy Higgins (p), Ed Jones (b) and Sonny Payne (d).

Recorded at Ter-Mar Recording Studios, Chicago, August 23,24 & 25, 1960.

Arrangements by Frank Foster (#1-5,8,9,12,14); Thad Jones (#6,7,11,17); Al Grey (#10, 15); nat Pierce (#16) and Clare Fischer (#13).


Note: The four-bar trombone exchanges on 'Open Wider, Please' between Gray and Powell are initiated by the former. The second trombone solos on 'Rompin' and 'Al-Amo' are by Powell.


-The Thinking Man's Trombone

"A great if little-known LP, this set by trombonist Al Grey features him with other Count Basie sidemen (Eddie Higgins fills in on piano) playing three standards and tunes by Frank Foster, Thad Jones, and Grey himself. A boppish trombonist who was a master at using the plunger mute (crossing over into swing), Grey holds his own on this set with trumpeter Joe Newman, tenor saxophonist Billy Mitchell, and fellow trombonist Benny Powell. Among the high points of this enjoyable set are "Salty Papa," "Don't Cry Baby," "King Bee," and a very pretty version of "Tenderly" that is taken by the horns a cappella. Swinging and witty music."

Scott Yanow -All Music Guide