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Roy Eldridge: Decidedly
ByFour lengthy and diversely drawn tracks make up the songbook and each appears custom arranged for maximum blowing potential. Griffin steals the spotlight on the opening Eldridge original “Bees Bloos” following the leader with a solo that is at once rough-hewn, and highly flammable through its alacrity and speed. Eldridge eases into the more stately “Lover Man” muted and a shade tentative, but the blues oozes through, coating the supporting efforts of his partners in a cerulean satin sheen. Pass’s gossamer chords float in the sonic space around Griffin’s more incessant thematic variations and Bellson’s brushes further advance the relaxed mood. The guitarist’s later solo proves conclusively why the signifier of ‘virtuoso’ was so often attached to his name and the same can easily be said for Pedersen’s turn, where the bassist make four strings sing with choir-size depth and resonance. Despite its temporal breadth the tune rolls out smooth as silk and each minute seems packed with the right measure of invention and interplay. Monk’s somewhat obscure “Hackensack” offers an unusual closer considering Eldridge’s credentials, but Griffin’s presence in the quintet serves as an arguable explanation. Also surprising is the guest appearance of Milt Jackson who contributes a minimalist piano solo on the track for added color.
This disc ranks as a minor entry in Eldridge’s extensive folio to be sure. But as a snapshot of the Little Jazz, as he was affectionately know, in his later years, still reveling in the myriad improvisatory possibilities of a music he helped create and shape, its time well spent and comes easily recommended.
Pablo discs are available through the Fantasy label: http://www.fantasyjazz.com
Track Listing
Bee’s Bloos (9:51)*/ Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?) (16:36)*/ Undecided (11:33)/ Hackensack (15:10)*.
Personnel
Roy Eldridge
trumpetRoy Eldridge- trumpet; Johnny Griffin- tenor saxophone; Ray Bryant- piano; Joe Pass- guitar*; Neils-Henning
Album information
Title: Decidedly | Year Released: 2002 | Record Label: Fantasy Jazz