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Jumpin' at Apollo: Illinois Jacquet
Recorded with a range of musicians between August of 1945 and May of 1947, these Apollo tracks are all punchy, bright, and revealing of Jacquet mastering his horn, developing in tact and execution what he was, evolvingly, dropping in histrionics. There is still plenty of the rapid fire, "look at me ma" soloing that would later prove Jacquet's undoing as he became a caricature of himself on Jazz at the Philharmonic dates, and these instances duly prove the album's gilded treasures, affecting at first, though not its true rewards. For those, one must look to the calmer, more discreetly paced and managed tunes, even to Jacquet the ballad player. Coolly mannered, Jacquet's playing on "Ghost of a Chance" is irresistible; he seems to virtually narrate the tune's minor key phrases with preternatural authority, a talent perhaps less fully realized but still in evidence on other tracks like "Memories of You" and "She's Funny That Way." One must also not miss the inspired teaming of Jacquet and vocalist Wynonie Harris on "Here Comes the Blues" and "Wynonie's Blues," two impressively commanding musical voices not vying, as one might expect, for first billing, but rather settling back and achieving yet another of jazz's peculiar symbiotic relationships. Or to go one step further, a relationship that quite nearly extends to rock and roll.
Copyright 2004 Discoveries / Krause Publications. Reprinted with permission.
Track Listing
1. Diggin' the Count 2. Bottoms Up (78) 3. Ghost of a Chance 4. South Street Special (LP) 5. Jacquet Bounce 6. Robbin's Nest 7. Jumpin' at Apollo 8. What's This 9. Memories of You 10. Music Hall Beat 11. Jumpin' at the Woodside (78) 12. Merle's Mood (78) 13. She's Funny That Way 14. 12 Minutes To Go (78) 15. Wondering and Thinking of You 16. Here Comes the Blues 17. Wynonie's Blues 18. Bottoms Up (LP) 19. 12 Minutes To Go (LP) 20. Merle's Mood (LP) 21. South Street Special (78) 22. Jumpin' at the Woodside (LP) 23. Jacquet Mood
Personnel
Illinois Jacquet (ts), Russell Jacquet (t,v), John Brown (as) Arthur Dennis (bs), Bill Doggett (p), Ulysses Livingston (g), Charles Mingus (b), Al Wichard (d), Wynonie Harris (v), Joe Newman (t), Trummy Young (tb), Ray Perry (as), Freddie Green (g), John Simmons (b), Denzil Best (d), Leo Parker (bs), Sir Charles Thompson (p), Al Lucas (b), Shadow Wilson (d)
Album information
Title: Illinois Jacquet | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: Delmark Records