Marshall Royal (alto sax); Ben Webster (tenor sax); Bobby Tucker (piano); ? (bass); Jo Jones (drums). 1953
Remember the EP? Those 45 rpm discs with, usually but not always, two tracks per side. For a time they bridged the gap 'twixt single and long playing album and for a few years in the 1950s a lot of good jazz was issued in this format.
Alto Jump consists of four tracks by two groups - the Pete Brown Quintet and, considering that it too was a quintet, the bizarrely named Marshall Royal and his Orchestra.
Both groups are led by alto saxists each with individual styles. Brown, spiky toned, his phrasing very much on the beat. The feeling is that of a 1940s' jump band which in fact it was. That's my Weakness Now has Brown playfully dancing around the melody as if he's telling the tune's composers that they got it wrong. Joe Thomas' trumpet solo on It's the Talk of the Town, a study in lyricism. Kersey is excellent with a more modern approach.
There's no bass player listed on the Marshall Royal tracks but, unless it's my next door neighbour putting shelves up with a rubber hammer, I distinctly heard some bass notes. With the Basie Band Royal's solos were exquisite but rather lachrymose - not so here. On Funky Feelin' Blues he wails with the best of them whilst on 'S Wonderful he blows swing alto like he never did with Basie. Of course he had to be at the top of his game to keep up with his front line partner, Ben Webster, who is at his growling best.
More memories of the format to follow - Lance
No comments :
Post a Comment