Shirley Scott: Trio Classics, Volume 1 (2004)

C. Michael Bailey

Senior Contributor since 1997

...wants to know if Gene Harris is playing "Summertime" in Heaven...

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Published: July 1, 2004

Trio Classics, Volume 1 is the latest of Fantasy Records' twofer releases, and what a fine one it is. Under the auspices of an organ jazz trio (organ-bass-drums), the divine Ms. Shirley Scott is restored to digital in a sensible and intelligent manner. Trio Classics is comprised of two Scott LP recordings: Great Scott (Prestige 7143) and Shirley’s Sounds (Prestige 7195). These two original recordings were culled from a single recording session that took place at Rudy Van Gelder’s Hackensack studios on May 23, 1958, Scott’s first outing as a leader.

The fare is soul jazz and the score is one original plus fifteen standards. This recording illustrates abundantly that Scott was per haps the most accessible of all jazz organists, including fellow Philadelphian Jimmy Smith. Her use of organ timbre and pedals is conservative and her soloing non-invasive. She maintains a steel-hard groove that is never broken even on the faster pieces like "The Scott" and "Indiana." "Bye Bye Blackbird" and "I Can’t See for Lookin’," as well as the opener, "The Scott," are superb blues, superbly played. This recording is marketed as Volume 1. I cannot wait for Volume 2.

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Track Listing: The Scott; All Of You; Goodbye; Four; Nothing Ever Changes My Love For You; Trees Cherokee; Brazil; It Could Happen To You; Summertime; There Will Never Be Another You; Bye Bye Blackbird; S'posin; Baby Won't You Please Come Home; Indiana, (Back Home Again In); I Can't See For Lookin'.

Personnel: Shirley Scott

Record Label: Prestige Records
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream