1951-1953

RELEASE
August 17, 2004
LABEL
Classics
GENRES
Jazz, Standards, Bop, Saxophone Jazz, Jazz Instrument

Album Review

This is the sixth volume of the complete recordings of Charlie Ventura reissued in chronological order. Four out of the five sessions represented here are strictly instrumental. This gives fans of Jackie Cain and Roy Kral a taste of that duo's kicky vocal routine without detracting from the overall instrumental jazz content. On August 8, 1951, the saxophonist made his only recordings under the banner of Charlie Ventura's Big Four, with pianist Teddy Napoleon, bassist Chubby Jackson, and drummer Buddy Rich, whose megalomania accelerated the speedy dissolution of this tight little group. In a bizarre turn of events, Rich sang "Love Is Just Around the Corner" while Mel Tormé sat in at the drums. On December 22, 1952, Ventura waxed seven beautiful sides using alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones in front of a rhythm trio for producer Norman Granz. Ventura's baritone work is particularly attractive on "Blue Prelude." A second date for Norgran Records took place on January 5, 1953, with Hank Jones at the piano and the great Jo Jones behind the drums. Ventura opens on tenor but switches to baritone on "Blues for Two" and sticks with the basement horn on "Somebody Loves Me." These are some radically advanced improvisations, signaling a profound ongoing artistic evolution. Moving over to Coral Records for most of the remainder of 1953, Ventura first chose to collaborate once again with Jackie Cain and Roy Kral. The band behind their vocals is superb, and Ventura hauls out his baritone for extra emphasis. Four romantic sax solos with orchestral accompaniment close out this segment of the Ventura chronology with all the subtlety of a sugary dessert wine garnished with a blood-red maraschino cherry.
arwulf arwulf, Rovi

Track Listing

  1. After You've Gone
  2. Love Is Just Around the Corner
  3. Ol' Man River
  4. O.H. Blues
  5. Jersey Bounce
  6. Deep Purple
  7. Girl of My Dreams
  8. Blue Prelude
  9. C-Jam Blues
  10. Ain't Misbehavin'
  11. Limehouse Blues
  12. Blues for Two
  13. Somebody Loves Me
  14. Crazy Rhythm
  15. All the Things You Are
  16. The Great Lie
  17. Turnpike
  18. They Can't Take That Away from Me
  19. The Honey Jump, Pt. 1
  20. The Honey Jump, Pt. 2
  21. My One and Only Love
  22. Julie
  23. I Love You
  24. Intermezzo