Gene Ammons

3 LPs ON 2 CDs

These three albums are from a series of Gene Ammons-led sessions recorded for Prestige starting in 1955, when the tenor headed what amounted to the label’s house group in after-hours collaborations that, despite their take-no-prisoners approach, yielded much swinging and imaginative excitement. Amid the fierce blowing Ammons displays power and intensity, and Jackie McLean reveals his concern for linear development, exhibiting a warm tone and phrasing firmly based on Bird. Three great trumpet players are featured in these albums.

PERSONNEL:

CD 1 (1-3) from the album Jammin’ with Gene (Prestige PRLP7060)

Donald Byrd, Art Farmer (tp)
Jackie McLean (as)
Gene Ammons (ts)
Mal Waldron (p)
Doug Watkins (b)
Art Taylor (d)

Hackensack, NJ, July 13, 1956

CD 1 (4-7) from the album Funky (Prestige PRLP 7083)

Art Farmer (tp)
Jackie McLean (as)
Gene Ammons (ts)
Mal Waldron (p)
Kenny Burrell (g)
Doug Watkins (b)
Art Taylor (d)
Jimmy Mundy (arr)

Hackensack, NJ, January 11, 1957

CD 2 (1-4) from the album Jammin’ in Hi-Fi with Gene Ammons (Prestige PRLP 7110)

Idrees Sulieman (tp)
Jackie McLean (as)
Gene Ammons (ts)
Mal Waldron (p)
Kenny Burrell (g)
Paul Chambers (b)
Art Taylor (d)

Hackensack, NJ, April 12, 1957.

CD 2 (5-7) from the album The Happy Blues (Prestige PRLP 7039)

Art Farmer (tp)
Jackie McLean (as)
Gene Ammons (ts)
Duke Jordan (p)
Addison Farmer (b)
Art Taylor (d)
Candido Camero (conga)

Hackensack, NJ, April 23, 1956.

CD 1

01. Not Really the Blues (Mandel) 16:07
02. Jammin’ with Gene (Ammons) 14:23
03. We'll Be Together Again (Fischer-Laine) 4:31
04. Funky (Burrell) 8:56
05. Pint Size (Mundy) 12:20
06. Stella by Starlight (Washington-Young) 8:52
07. King Size (Mundy) 9:16

CD 2

01. The Twister (Waldron) 12:12
02. Four (Davis) 13:01
03. Pennies from Heaven (Burke-Johnston) 13:00
04. Cattin’ (Waldron) 11:59
05. The Happy Blues (Farmer) 12:08
06. The Great Lie (Calloway-Gibson) 8:42
07. Madhouse (McLean) 6:42