Tommy FLANAGAN - Thelonica 1982

Tommy FLANAGAN - Thelonica 1982

Jazz

There's a definite Monkish bent to this one, in case you couldn't guess from the title -- but Tommy Flanagan doesn't simply copy Monk's compositions, but also throws in a few great touches of his own! The session's got a depth and complexity that goes beyond other standard tributes to Thelonious Monk -- partly due to Tommy's lyrical approach to the keys, which warms some of the tunes nicely, and shades in colors that Monk never seemed to touch. Trio members here include George Mraz on bass and Art Taylor on drums -- and titles include "Thelonica", "Off Minor", "Ugly Beauty", "Reflections", "Thelonius", and "North Of The Sunset".
From Dusty Groove.
**
Flanagan has a really deft touch on the keys. He uses interesting harmonies, creatively varies the melodic line, and employs a wider dynamic range than many other jazz arists. But there's something more - he seems to have an intuitive sense of how to build a larger architectural structure out of the musical material than many other musicians. I have over a dozen albums by Tommy Flanagan. They're all great, but Thelonica and Giant Steps stand out. (By "Giant Steps" I'm referring to the Enja label release that was a tribute album to Miles Davis, in which he gives a piano trio version of each tune on the original classic Miles Davis album Giant Steps, on which Flanagan appeared.)
By Peter D. Mark.
**
Recorded just ten months after Thelonious Monk's death, pianist Tommy Flanagan's tribute features eight of Monk's compositions plus Flanagan's own Thelonica. Assisted by bassist George Mraz and drummer Art Taylor, Flanagan does not sound at all like Monk but he recaptures his spirit and hints strongly now and then at his style on this fine (and often introspective) outing.
By Scott Yanow, AMG.
**
Tommy Flanagan- (Piano)
George Mraz- (Bass)
Art Taylor- (Drums)
**
01. North of the Sunset 4:22
02. Light Blue 5:28
03. Off Minor 5:28
04. Pannonica 6:59
05. Ask Me Now 4:10
06. Thelonious 4:10
07. Reflections 7:30
08. Ugly Beauty 5:03
09. Thelonica 5:11
**

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Tommy FLANAGAN and Hank JONES - Our Delights 1976

Tommy FLANAGAN and Hank JONES - Our Delights 1976

Piano duets have the potential danger of getting overcrowded and a bit incoherent, but neither happens on this rather delightful set. Hank Jones and Tommy Flanagan, two of the four great jazz pianists (along with Barry Harris and Roland Hanna) to emerge from Detroit in the '40s and '50s, have similar styles and their mutual respect is obvious. Their renditions of seven superior bop standards (including "Jordu," "Confirmation" and Thad Jones' "A Child Is Born") plus an alternate take of "Robbins Nest" on this CD reissue are tasteful, consistently swinging and inventive within the tradition.
By Scott Yanow, All Music Guide.
**
01. Our Delight / Hank Jones 5:08
02. Autumn Leaves / Hank Jones 5:39
03. Robbins Nest / Hank Jones 7:19
04. Jordu / Hank Jones 5:01
05. Confirmation / Hank Jones 5:17
06. A Child Is Born / Hank Jones 6:19
07. Lady Bird / Hank Jones 3:53
08. Robbins Nest / Hank Jones Bonus  7:28
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Tommy FLANAGAN - Giant Steps (In Memory of John Coltrane) 1982

Tommy FLANAGAN - Giant Steps (In Memory of John Coltrane) 1982

Jazz

Tommy Flanagan plays again the tunes from the Giant Steps recording that he made with Coltrane. The first time around, he received the charts at the beginning of the session. So his solo on the original Giant Steps is a little less than overwhelming. He gives a good shot at it, but one feels he ran out of imagination, and just comped his way out of the chorus. Plus, he did not record Naima (on my remastered Coltrane cd, there is Wynton Kelly, who was on the LP, and Cedar Walton) on the original.
This recording allows him to correct all this. Syeeda's song flute sounds surprisingly good as a trio. Tommy is accompanied by George Mraz, who does his customary excellent job, and Al Foster.
By  Cedric Westphal.
**
Tommy Flanagan- Piano,
George Mraz- Bass,
Al Foster- Drums
**
01. Mr. P.C. 6:31
02. Central Park West 5:31
03. Syeeda's Song Flute 5:53
04. Cousin Mary 7:07
05. Naima 4:57
06. Giant Steps 6:12
**
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Tommy FLANAGAN - The Cats 1957

Tommy FLANAGAN - The Cats 1957

Jazz
             
The Cats are John Coltrane, Kenny Burrell, Tommy Flanagan, and Idrees Sulieman, heavyweights that clearly mark this as a Prestige All-Stars blowing session. However, this 1957 recording is actually a showcase for Flanagan, a rising star in his first major role. None of the tunes are all that challenging, following basic blues formulas that befit the nature of the session, which was probably quickly organized and recorded. But as you might expect this gives the players plenty of opportunities to wail.
Coltrane demonstrates that he would soon be exploring more harmonically advanced territories than the others, tearing through rapid-fire solos with no trouble whatsoever. Burrell takes a more laid-back approach, stringing together bluesy licks in a relaxed fashion. If there's a weak link here, it's Sulieman, who despite a few nice solos seems tentative in spots and a little directionless in others.

But fortunately this is Flanagan's session, a gifted sideman who provides the right support to make sure that everyone stays on course. Along with the sextet tunes, a trio recording of "How Long Has This Been Going On?" proves that Flanagan was capable of handling the spotlight on his own. The slow, graceful rendering of the standard proves that the pianists had plenty of originality and taste and is the only track on the album that stands out.

The Cats isn't the best recording by any of these musicians, who recorded in various combinations elsewhere (the later Kenny Burrell with John Coltrane , which also features Flanagan, is an essential purchase), but nevertheless The Cats is a solid album with plenty of tasty playing.
By David Rickert.
**
This is an album that no Jazz fan should miss. It's another 1957 album (but, how many Jazz albums did the record industry produced that year? I guess thousands!) and this could be enough. But there's a lot more here. "The cats" is a strong release still considering that it came out in the Jazz magic year. It is one of those albums that immediatly catch your attention and that become one of those that you really can't stay too much time far from ... The line up is stellar: Flanagan piano, Coltrane tenor sax, Burrell guitar, Sulieman trumpet, Watkins doublebass, Louis Hayes drums. The program is terrific: the opener "Minor mishap" is a minor swinger similar to "Strode rode" from Rollins's "Saxophone colossus" for example. Sublime the band's interpretation of the Gershwin's classic ballad "How long has this been going on" (which can stand as "You don't know what love is" in Colossus .. and the similarities between these two albums are not ended...). Another wonderful tune is "Eclypso" another calypso tune similar to the one you can find in "Saxophone colossus", "St. Thomas". Last tune is a blues (again like in Colossus) and "Solacium" is a medium tempo hard bop thing (which can stand as "Moritat" in Colossus even if Moritat is a standard, it's "Mack the knife"). Who knows maybe Flanagan was responsible for the Colossus program too!!? Just Joking (but Flanagan did play in Colossus for real!), anyway believe me, in this album the atmosphere is just RIGHT, the one that every Jazz enthusiast search in a Jazz album. I don't have a favourite soloist among the guys here, sure Flanagan gives a great classic finesse to the overall balance, Burrell addedd some "funky" spice, Sulieman provided exceptionally clear trumpet solos and Coltrane, for once, is not too obtrusive. I mean he didn't play 48 choruses on each tune! Good! Great balance, great fifties Jazz record. You can buy it with confidence.
By  Jazzcat.
**
Tommy Flanagan- Piano;
John Coltrane- Tenor Sax;
Idrees Sulieman- Trumpet;
Kenny Burrell- Guitar;
Doug Watkins- Bass;
Louis Hayes- Drums.
**
01. Minor Mishap Kenny Burrell 7:23
02. How Long Has This Been Going On? Tommy Flanagan 5:55 
03. Eclypso Tommy Flanagan 7:55
04. Solacium Tommy Flanagan 9:07
05. Tommy's Tune Tommy Flanagan 11:58
**
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Tommy FLANAGAN - Confirmation 1977-1978

Tommy FLANAGAN - Confirmation 1977-1978
Label: Enja
Recorded in New York, New York between
February 1977 and November 1978
Release Date: 1982

Jazz

Known for his flawless and tasteful playing, Tommy Flanagan received long overdue recognition for his talents in the 1980s. He played clarinet when he was six and switched to piano five years later. Flanagan was an important part of the fertile Detroit jazz scene (other than 1951-1953 when he was in the Army) until he moved to New York in 1956. He was used for many recordings after his arrival during that era; cut sessions as a leader for New Jazz, Prestige, Savoy, and Moodsville; and worked regularly with Oscar Pettiford, J.J. Johnson (1956-1958), Harry "Sweets" Edison (1959-1960), and Coleman Hawkins (1961). Flanagan was Ella Fitzgerald's regular accompanist during 1963-1965 and 1968-1978, which resulted in him being underrated as a soloist. However, starting in 1975, he began leading a series of superior record sessions and since leaving Fitzgerald, Flanagan has been in demand as the head of his own trio, consistently admired for his swinging and creative bop-based style. Among the many labels he has recorded for since 1975 are Pablo, Enja, Denon, Galaxy, Progressive, Uptown, Timeless, and several European and Japanese companies. For Blue Note, he cut Sunset and Mockingbird in 1998, followed a year later by Samba for Felix. Despite a heart condition, Flanagan continued performing until the end of his life, performing two-week stints at the Village Vanguard twice a year, recording and touring.
He died on November 16, 2001, in Manhattan from an arterial aneurysm.
By Scott Yanow, All Music Guide.
**
A meeting of masters, a true highlight of modern jazz piano. 20 years ago BILLBOARD commented: "The fleet pianist's latest release fon ENJA here is a coupling of '77 and '78 sessions again teaming him with bassist George Mraz and Elvin Jones. The Highlights may include jazz and pop standards like the Charlie Parker title tune and How High The Moon but the playing is anything but standard and the production lucid and straightforward."
**
Tommy Flanagan- (Piano),
George Mraz- (Double Bass),
Elvin Jones- (Drums).
**
01. Maybe September 4:57
02. Confirmation 6:53
03. How High The Moon 6:07
04. It Never Entered My Mind 7:10
05. Cup Bearers 4:09
06. 50-21 6:48
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Tommy FLANAGAN - Jazz Poet 1989

Tommy FLANAGAN - Jazz Poet 1989
Label: Timeless

Jazz

By the time of this recording, pianist Tommy Flanagan had been performing for decades mostly as a sideman
for a who's who of jazz: players such as Miles Davis, J.J. Johnson, and Sonny Rollins, to name a few. His perfect, yet unassuming style made him the pianist of choice for dozens of musicians. While he has recorded as a leader from time to time, this album may be the best representation of his work available. He performs a set of great tunes ("Caravan," "Willow Weep for Me," "St. Louis Blues," "Lament," and others) in a topflight trio, with George Mraz on bass and Kenny Washington on drums. Flanagan is at the peak of his powers. Never flashy, never showy, this is just outstanding music performed by a true master who is one of the great bop pianists of the 20th century.
By Steven Loewy, All Music Guide.
**
Tommy Flanagan- Piano
George Mraz- Bass
Kenny Washington- Drums
**
01. Raincheck 4:59
02. Lament 5:09
03. Willow Weep For Me 6:04
04. Caravan 6:24
05. That Tired Routine Called Love 6:49
06. Glad To Be Unhappy 4:47
07. St. Louis Blues 6:35
08. Mean Streets 4:13
09. I'm Old Fashioned 5:43
10. Voce Abuso 4:51
**
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