Review: Wardell Gray - Four Classic Albums Plus

Wardell Gray died at the age of 34. To this day there is speculation as to how, exactly, he met his end. What we have here is the legacy of an undoubtedly great tenor saxophonist. From Pasadena in 1947 (Way Out Wardell) to Los Angeles 1950 and 1953 (Memorial Album Volume 1) we hear the ill-fated Gray working with some of the great names of the period.

The '47 Pasadena session included fellow tenor man Vido Musso, Benny Carter on alto sax and the trumpeters Howard McGhee and Ernie Royal. Some five years on Frank Morgan was playing alto sax, Al Haig, Phil Hill and Sonny Clark shared piano duties, Tommy Potter was on bass, and the sole surviving participant from these recordings, Roy Haynes (now 96) occupying the drum chair. 

In his sleeve notes to The Chase and The Steeplechase, Gene Norman wrote: One of the most exciting situations in jazz is an all-out 'to-the-death' duel between two tenor saxophones...This pertinent comment referred to Gray and fellow tenor man Dexter Gordon. The pair slug it out, Gordon throwing the bigger bombs, Gray taking the hit, then coming inside to do similar damage to his adversary. Just the two numbers on the album - The Chase (11 mins 32 secs) and The Steeplechase (weighing-in at 13 mins 51 secs) - with Conte Candoli on trumpet, Bobby Tucker, piano, Don Bagley, bass, with Chico Hamilton driving it along on the ride cymbal, despite the less-than-perfect audio quality, this February 2nd 1952 album is essential listening.

More than two and a half hours later this two-CD, four album package goes out all guns blazing on Denzil Best's More (Gray, Gordon, Sonny Criss toting his alto sax, Hampton Hawes or Jimmy Bunn on piano). If not for Christmas, Four Classic Albums Plus makes the ideal birthday present.   Russell  

Four Classic Albums Plus (AMSC1403) is available from Avid Jazz: www.avidgroup.co.uk.  

The Chase & The Steeplechase: Wardell Gray (tenor sax); Dexter Gordon (tenor sax); Conte Candoli (trumpet); Bobby Tucker (piano); Don Bagley (bass); Chico Hamilton (drums)

Way Out Wardell: Wardell Gray (tenor sax); Vido Musso (tenor sax); Benny Carter (alto sax); Howard McGhee (trumpet); Ernie Royal 9trumpet); Vic Dickenson (trombone); Erroll Garner (piano); Arnold Ross (piano); Barney Kessel (guitar); Irving Ashby (guitar); Red Callender (bass); Harry Babison (bass); Jackie Mills (drums); Don Lamond (drums)

Memorial Album Volume 1: Wardell Gray (tenor sax); Frank Morgan (alto sax); Al Haig (piano); Phil Hill (piano); Sonny Clark (piano); Teddy Charles (vibes); Dick Nivison (bass); Johnny Richardson (bass); Tommy Potter (bass); Art Mardigan (drums); Larry Marable (drums); Roy Haynes (drums)

Memorial Album Volume 2: Wardell Gray (tenor sax); Dexter Gordon (tenor sax); Sonny Criss (alto sax); Art Framer (trumpet); Clark Terry (trumpet); Hampton Hawes (piano); Jimmy Bunn (piano); Billy Hadnott (bass); Harper Cosby (bass); Robert Collier (congas); Chuck Thompson (drums); Larry Marable (drums)