MG-20654: The Original Jazz Score Of Kwamina / Billy Taylor

	Label Type :	black Mercury type B
	Matrix Number :	SIDE-A	MG 20654A MS1    FF
		SIDE-B	MG 20654B MS1    FF

Comments

Equivalent release: Mercury SR-60654 (stereo).

with original Mercury inner sleeve.

Inside The Groove

A Jazz score of Kwamina, a Broadway musical.

Personal Impression (and brief notes)

A Jazz score of a Broadway musical? The fact itself won't move me a little. However, the sound presented here in this album is exceptionally impressive.

First, the score itself for Kwamina, a Broadway musical, is attractive. All of the nice tunes (collected here) are written by Richard Adler, a famous songwriter. And another important part of this album is of course Billy Taylor's piano. Billy Taylor, much underestimated here (at least) in Japan, plays so pretty but sincere. Other musicians gathered for this album are also nice.

It's not just a typical blowing session with head arrange. It's not a boring ensemble with too-much arrangements. Great compositions by Richard Adler - nice arrangement by Jimmy Jones - impressive solo improvisations by every musician here - THE BEST BALANCE. It's a kind of magic by Billy Taylor, Richard Adler and Jimmy Jones.

Strictly Personal Rating (to what extent I could enjoy this album)

9 out of 10

Track Listing

Personnel

Personnel/recorded date/master numbers confirmed with the Ruppli's discography.
(“The Mercury Labels - A Discography” by Ruppli and Novitsky, Greenwood Press, 1993)

A-3, B-1, B-2:
Billy Taylor (p, leader) with:
Clark Terry (tp, flh), Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Julius Watkins (frh), Jay McAllister (tuba),
Phil Woods (as), Frank Wess (ts), Jerome Richardson (bs),
Les Spann (g), George Duvivier (b), Osie Johnson (ds).
Recorded at Bell Sound Studios, New York City on September 12, 1961.

A-1, A-4, B-3:
same personnel as A-3.
Recorded at Bell Sound Studios, New York City on September 13, 1961.

A-2, A-5, B-4:
same personnel as A-3.
Recorded at Bell Sound Studios, New York City on September 14, 1961.

Arranger: Jimmy Jones.
Recording Director: Jack Tracy.
Recording Engineer: Phil Macy.

The Artist Also Appears on...

Jackets

Front	Back

Labels

Side A	Side B

Inner Sleeve

Front	Back