Tina Brooks “Back To The Tracks”

Tina Brooks

“Back To The Tracks”
( LP Blue Note Records, 1960 )
Catalog # BLP 4052 (NOT RELEASED)

Tracklisting:
01 – Back To The Tracks
02 – Street Singer [*]
03 – The Blues And I
04 – For Heavens Sake
05 – The Ruby And The Pearl

Personnel:
Tina Brooks Sax (Tenor)
Paul Chambers Bass
Kenny Drew Piano
Jackie McLean Sax (Alto)
Blue Mitchell Trumpet
Art Taylor Drums

Review :
The music that comprises Back to the Tracks was recorded in September 1960, months after the sessions for True Blue, but it sat on the shelves until Mosaic reissued it as part of their Complete Blue Note Recordings box, even though it was penciled in for release. Like Minor Move, Tina Brooks first session that stayed unreleased for over 20 years, Back to the Tracks is an excellent hard bop set, and it’s hard to understand why it wasn’t released at the time. Brooks leads a fantastic band featuring alto saxophonist Jackie McLean, trumpeter Blue Mitchell, pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Art Taylor through three originals and two standards. Each musician has opportunity to shine, but Brooks remains the center of attention. His style is remarkably fluid, capable of graceful, elegant turns on the ballads and clean, speedy improvisations on the up-tempo bop. Each of the five songs have breathtaking moments, confirming Brooks talents as a saxophonist, composer and leader. Listening to Back to the Tracks, it’s impossible to figure out why the record wasn’t released at the time, but it’s a hard bop gem from the early ’60s to cherish.
By Stephen Thomas Erlewine (AMG)

Other Infos – From Jazz Discography Project :

Tina Brooks Quintet
Blue Mitchell (tp) Tina Brooks (ts) Kenny Drew (p) Paul Chambers (b) Art Taylor (d)
Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, October 20, 1960

tk.3 Back To The Tracks Mosaic MR4-106; Blue Note BLP 4052
tk.7 The Ruby And The Pearl -
tk.11 For Heaven’s Sake -
tk.13 The Blues And I -
David The King Blue Note rejected

* The Complete Blue Note Recordings Of The Tina Brooks Quintets (Mosaic MR4-106)
* Tina Brooks – Back To The Tracks (not released) (Blue Note BLP 4052)
= Tina Brooks – Back To The Tracks (Blue Note (J) BRP 8033)

BLP 4052 Tina Brooks – Back To The Tracks (not released)

Blue Mitchell (tp) Jackie McLean (as) Tina Brooks (ts) Kenny Drew (p) Paul Chambers (b) Art Taylor (d): same session
Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, September 1, 1960
tk.12 Street Singer
omit McLean
Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, October 20, 1960
tk.3 Back To The Tracks
tk.7 The Ruby And The Pearl
tk.11 For Heaven’s Sake
tk.13 The Blues And I
** transfered to Blue Note (J) BRP 8033.

Toshiba-EMI BONUS BRP 8000 series (12 inch LP)
BRP 8033 Tina Brooks – Back To The Tracks
Blue Mitchell (tp) Jackie McLean (as) Tina Brooks (ts) Kenny Drew (p) Paul Chambers (b) Art Taylor (d)
Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, September 1, 1960
tk.12 Street Singer
omit McLean
Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, October 20, 1960
tk.3 Back To The Tracks
tk.7 The Ruby And The Pearl
tk.11 For Heaven’s Sake
tk.13 The Blues And I
** originally intended as Blue Note BLP 4052.

By Rob