MFSRadio Archives: Milt Jackson “Wizard Of The Vibes”

Sunday, 30 August 2009

Milt Jackson “Wizard Of The Vibes”

“Wizard Of The Vibes”
( LP Blue Note Records, 1952 )
Catalog # BLP 5011

Tracklisting:
01 Tahiti[Jackson] 3:29
02 Lillie[Jackson] 3:15
03 Bags’ Groove[Jackson] 3:05
04 What’s New?[Burke, Haggart] 3:13
05 Don’t Get Around Much Anymore[Ellington, Russell] 3:01
06 On the Scene[Donaldson] 2:43
07 Lillie [alternate take][Jackson] 3:19
08 What’s New? [alternate take][Burke, Haggart] 3:17
09 Don’t Get Around Much Anymore [alternate take][Ellington, Russell] 3:04
10 Evidence[Monk] 2:34
11 Misterioso[Monk] 3:23
12 Epistrophy[Clarke, Monk] 3:08
13 I Mean You[Hawkins, Monk] 2:47
14 Misterioso [alternate take][Monk ] 2:47
15 All the Things You Are[Hammerstein, Kern] 3:01
16 I Should Care[Cahn, Stordahl, Weston] 3:02
17 I Should Care [alternate take][Cahn, Stordahl, Weston] 3:02

Personnel:
[#1-9] :
Milt Jackson, Vibes
Lou Donaldson, Sax (Alto)
John Richard Lewis, Piano
Percy Heath, Bass
Kenny Clarke, Drums
[#10-17] :
Milt Jackson, Vibes
Thelonious Monk, Piano
John Simmons, Bass
Shadow Wilson, Drums
[15-17] :
Kenny “Pancho” Hagood, Vocals

Notes:
Recorded at WOR Studios, NYC, July 23, 1951
Also issued on Vogue (E) LDE 044 entitled “Milt Jackson And His New Group”:
Vogue (F) LD 138 entitled “Milt Jackson And His New Group – Wizard Of The Vibes”
Also issued on Blue Note [RVG] 2435 32140 2 9

Review:
The music on Wizard of the Vibes features Milt Jackson with the Thelonious Monk Quartet in a 1948 session combined with a 1952 date with his bandmates from the Modern Jazz Quartet (at that time including John Lewis, Percy Heath, and Kenny Clarke) along with alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson, who was oddly credited as the leader of the date on the original release, though it clearly seems to be Jackson in charge. The chemistry between Jackson and Monk on classics like “Misterioso,” “Evidence,” “I Mean You,” and “Epistrophy” is immediately apparent, although Kenny “Pancho” Hagood’s vocals on the standards “All the Things You Are” and “I Should Care” remain an acquired taste. Jackson introduces three originals on the latter session, including the debut of his highly acclaimed “Bag’s Groove,” which has long since become one of the most celebrated and popular jazz compositions. Lewis’ uncanny musical ESP is evident throughout the session, as he feeds Jackson imaginative lines for his improvisations. Donaldson is enjoyable at times but doesn’t always play at a level equal to the rhythm section, resorting to rather run-of-the-mill ideas in some of his improvisations. Milt Jackson’s inventive playing throughout both dates makes this an important record in his considerable discography, so it should be a part of any bop fan’s collection.
By Ken Dryden (AMG)

Also exist:

Milt Jackson