Art Farmer (trumpet); Jackie McLean (alto sax); Sonny Clark (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); "Philly" Joe Jones (drums).
(By Lance).
When an artist dies young they automatically assume a legendary status, that isn't always justified. Often it is based on unfulfilled promise and the prospect of what might have been when in actual fact they may have already peaked.
Bix, Bunny, Bird, Brownie, Lee Morgan, Trane just some who laid down their benchmarks at an early age. Without mentioning any names, I can recall a host of jazz legends, brought to the Connaught Hall or the Corner House by JNE, whose glory days were long behind them.
Sonny Clark was one who had already achieved much and was possibly on the verge of greater things when, in January 1963, he succumbed to his heroin and alcohol addiction. He was 31.
Here he is surrounded by four of Blue Note's finest which means four of the jazz world's finest. Farmer as cool as Chet albeit, paradoxically, with a warmer sound. McLean, his DNA crammed full of ornithological genes, plus Chambers and Jones at the top of their game.
As for leader Clark, his 'comping is an art in itself whilst his soloing can match that of any pianist then and now. That Bill Evans could compose a piece dedicated to his fellow pianist (NYC's No Lark - an anagram of Sonny Clark) is proof of Clark's standing among his peers.
Cool Struttin' is one of 9 Blue Note albums he cut as leader and any one would have been an equally good choice.
Lance
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