Mercury Records Collection: EmArcy MG-36025: Introducing Joe Gordon

MG-36025: Introducing Joe Gordon

Label Type :	blue EmArcy type B silver rim
Matrix Number :	SIDE-A	MG36025A MF1 A1 I
	SIDE-B	MG36025B MF3 A1 I

Comments

A reissue of MG-26046 (original 10-inch issue) with two bonus tracks (from the very same session).

Inside The Groove

An excellent hard-bop session led by Joe Gordon with Art Blakey et al.

Personal Impression (and brief notes)

Joe Gordon led only two sessions during his short life (his death suddenly came as an unfortunate accident). The 10-inch LP MG-26046 as well as this 12-inch LP features his first leader session.

This album, accompanied with such famous names as Art Blakey (Joe Gordon joined Blakey's band in mid-1950s), Charlie Rouse and Junior Mance, represents one of his finest hard-bop taste. His brilliant trumpet is so great, while Blakey pushes so hard as he always dig, and give propulsion to all members.

Additional tracks against original 10-inch MG-26046 are B-2 and B-3. Both are from the same session, and are also great tunes with refreshing improvisations.

By the way, A-2's melody might refer to “Hackensack”, while B-2 to “A Night in Tunisia”. Interesting.

A great Jazz album in the 1950s.

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

9 out of 10

Track Listing

SIDE-A
A-1	10949	Toll Bridge (E. Lawrence)	6:23
A-2	10950	Lady Bob (Quincy Jones)	6:52
A-3	10952	Grasshopper (Quincy Jones)	6:51
SIDE-B
B-1	10953	Flash Gordon (Quincy Jones)	7:30
B-2	10948	Bous Bier (Quincy Jones)	6:42
B-3	11086	Xochimilco (Roland)	7:50

Personnel

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

All six tracks are now available on recent CD reissue (Verve 314 538 634-2) with EmArcy MG-26030 tracks plus two more.

A-3, B-1, B-3:
Joe Gordon (tp), Charlie Rouse (ts), Junior Mance (p), Jimmy Schenck (b), Art Blakey (ds).
Recorded at Fine Sound Studio, New York City on September 3, 1954.

A-1, A-2, B-2:
same personnel as above.
Recorded at Fine Sound Studio, New York City on September 8, 1954.