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Bailey's Bundles
Concord Jazz: Thirty Years and Going Strong
C. Michael Bailey
...wants to know if Gene Harris is playing "Summertime" in Heaven...Herb Ellis is a blues master. Born in Farmersville, Texas on August 4, 1921, Mr. Ellis has been an active musician for the past six decades. His chops have not lost a bit of their grit or grip. On Straight Ahead, Mr. Ellis is paired with Mr. Brown and Mr. Alexander— that would be Ray and Monty. Together, the trio has a curious and potent synergy, solidly in evidence on this re-release. Originally marketed separately as Trio (Concord Jazz 4136, 1981) and Overseas Special (Concord Jazz 4253, 1984) Straight Ahead provides a framework from which the listener can grasp the importance of all three of these artists and most particular. Drummerless trios demand an added expertise of perfect time of the participants. This trio meets this demand effortlessly. I site merely "C.C. Rider," "Sweet Georgia Brown," and "Captain Bill," as well as "F.S.R." Horace Silver's "Sister Sadie" comes off perfectly in the hands of the intimately understanding. Superb musicianship, striking empathy.
Herb Ellis, Joe Pass, Ray Brown, Jake Hanna
Arrival
Concord Jazz CCD2-2168
2003
The true plus here are two of the finest jazz guitarists playing with perhaps the finest jazz bassist. Arrival documents two such meetings between Herb Ellis, Joe Pass, and Ray Brown with the able support of Jake Hanna on drums. Derived from the studio recording Jazz/Concord (Concord Jazz CCD-6001, 1973) and the live recording Seven, Come Eleven (Concord Jazz CCD-6002, 1974), Arrival is the celebration of all things swing with a large dose of Ellington, all performed with a brilliant contrapuntal guitar interplay by Ellis and Pass grounded with the Swiss time of Ray Brown. One need look no further for the guitar summitry of "In A Mellow Tone," Charlie Christian's "Seven, Come Eleven," and "Perdido."
