Gene AMMONS - Jammin' With Gene 1956

Gene AMMONS - Jammin' With Gene 1956

Jazz

This blowing session is not quite as impressive as some of Gene's other Prestige outings in the mid-50s. Along with the two trumpeters Art Farmer and Donald Byrd, we have the usually-present Jackie McLean on alto, Mal Waldron on piano, and the rhythm section of Doug Watkins and Art Taylor. The title track is a medium blues, while "We'll be together again" starts slow, then goes up. The best track is the 16-minute "Not really the blues," taken up-tempo. Not a bad album by any means, it's just that other better ones were on the horizon
By  Bomojaz.
**
Yet another in the Gene Ammons jam session series, this one stars Ammons's puissant, soulful tenor saxophone, surrounded by two trumpets Donald Byrd and Art Farmer (Farmer had been on the two preceding jams), alto man Jackie McLean, pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Doug Watkins, and drummer Arthur Taylor.
The three long tracks are Johnny Mandel's "Not Really the Blues," Gene's feature in Woody Herman's band; "We'll Be Together Again," done in both ballad and up-tempo, and the title number blues. Extended jamming allows the soloists to build their solos, something at which Jug, as Ammons was nicknamed, was particularly skillful.
**
A1. Jammin' With Gene  
A2. We'll Be Together Again  
B1. Not Really the Blues
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Gene AMMONS - Blue Gene 1958

Gene AMMONS - Blue Gene 1958

Jazz

The final of his series of jam sessions for Prestige features an excellent septet (the leader on tenor, trumpeter Idrees Sulieman, baritonist Pepper Adams, pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Doug Watkins, drummer Art Taylor and Ray Barretto on congas) stretching out on three original blues and the ballad "Hip Tip"; all four pieces were written by Waldron. Few surprises occur but everyone plays up to their usual high level. This enjoyable straightahead CD is a reissue of the original LP.
By Scott Yanow, All Music Guide.
**
Gene Ammons- (Tenor Sax)
Pepper Adams- (Baritone Sax)
Idrees Sulieman- (Trumpet)
Mal Waldron- (Piano)
Doug Watkins- (Bass)
Art Taylor- (Drums)
Ray Barretto- (Congas)
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01. Blue Gene  13:54
02. Scamperin'  8:46
03. Blue Greens And Beans  9:00
04. Hip Tip  8:55
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Gene AMMONS - Happy Blues 1956

Gene AMMONS - Happy Blues 1956
Label: OJC
Audio CD (July 1, 1991)

Jazz

Reading the liner notes, it seems like this album was thrown together on the spot. A bunch of musicians showed up at the Prestige Records office that Friday for a recording session. The original pianist went MIA so they had to wake up Duke Jordan as a substitute. Finally they all trekked over to Rudy Van Gelder's studio in order to make the recording. All the wonderful cliches of a jam session are here: simple arrangements of blues and standards, cooking solos, riffing behind the soloist, trading fours and eights.
Despite being under Gene Ammons's nominal leadership, it's fair to say that no single musician really dominates this session. It's nice to hear Gene's huge tenor sound in this context (he's often typecast as a groove or ballad player), and young Jackie Mac really smokes even if he hasn't completely matured as a player yet. Candido's congas provide that extra bit of rhythmic spice. Art Taylor's drumming is as crisp as usual.
"Can't We Be Friends" and the title track are taking at a relaxed, moderate pace, allowing the musicians to settle into the groove. "The Great Lie" is absolutely electric here. "Madhouse" is appropriately titled (despite being a thinly veiled "What Is This Thing Called Love") -- a fun, insane romp that builds from trading fours into a final, tri-horn collective improv. There's a sense of friendly competition; you can sense it during some of the trading-fours sequences, when some of the musicians (particularly Jackie) can't wait until it's their turn!
I definitely recommend this to any hard bop fan. Sometimes blowing sessions fall flat, but that is certainly not a problem on the Happy Blues.
By G.B.
**
No way this album, one of the 4-5 best by a one-of-a-kind American treasure (America's answer to Pavarotti in the world of tenors) should be out of print. I'll confess that with the passing years, I've wearied somewhat of Jackie McLean's sound, but Jug easily compensates. Moreover, all of these players are at the top of their game while burning an indelible groove in the listener's consciousness. At the very least, Amazon could go iTunes one better by making available for download tracks that go for longer that 6-7 minutes in length. That's practically an inexcusable reason for punishing the artist as well as the listener.
By  Samuel Chell.
**
This is one of the great studio jam sessions. Tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons is teamed up with trumpeter Art Farmer, altoist Jackie Mclean, pianist Duke Jordan, bassist Addison Farmer, drummer Art Taylor, and the congas of Candido for four lengthy selections. Best is "The Happy Blues," which has memorable solos and spontaneous but perfectly fitting riffing by the horns behind each others' solos. The other numbers ("The Great Lie," "Can't We Be Friends," and "Madhouse") are also quite enjoyable, making this a highly recommended set.
By Scott Yanow, All Music Guide.
**
Jackie McLean- Alto Sax
Art Farmer- Trumpet
Addison Farmer- Bass
Art Taylor- Drums
Candido Camero- Conga
Gene Ammons- Tenor Sax
Duke Jordan- Piano
**
01. The Happy Blues (Farmer) 12:08
02. The Great Lie (Calloway, Gibson) 8:42
03. Can't We Be Friends? (James, Swift) 12:54
04. Madhouse (McLean) 6:42
**
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Gene AMMONS - Goodbye 1974

Gene AMMONS - Goodbye 1974
Label: Prestige / Ojc
Cd Released: 2005 (Ojc)
Jazz

It is ironic that on tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons' final recording date, the last song he performed was the standard "Goodbye." That emotional rendition is the high point of this session, a septet date with cornetist Nat Adderley, altoist Gary Bartz, pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Sam Jones, drummer Louis Hayes, and Ray Barretto on congas. In contrast to the somewhat commercial studio albums he had recorded during the past couple of years, this set was much more freewheeling, for Ammons was clearly happy to perform the material (which included "It Don't Mean a Thing," "Alone Again (Naturally)," and "Jeannine") without any tight arrangements, in the spirit of his Prestige jam sessions of the 1950s. It's a fine ending to a colorful career.
By Scott Yanow, All Music Guide.
**
Gene Ammons- (Tenor Sax);
Gary Bartz- (Alto SaxS);
Nat Adderley- (Cornet);
Kenny Drew- (Piano);
Sam Jones- (Bass);
Louis Hayes- (Drums);
Ray Barretto- (Conga).
**
A1   Out In The Sticks (6:27)
A2   Alone Again (Naturally) (5:55)
A3   It Doesn't Mean A Thing (5:38)
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B1   Jeannine (6:27)
B2   Geru's Blues (7:34)
B3   Goodbye (4:32)
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