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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