During the second half of the 1950s, tenor saxophonist recorded mostly jam session albums for Prestige. In June 1960, the label's founder and producer, Bob Weinstock, figured out that Ammons could also record with just a rhythm section behind him. The result was one of Ammons's finest albums—Boss Tenor.
The LP featured Gene Ammons (ts), Tommy Flanagan (p), Doug Watkins (b), Art Taylor (d) and Ray Barretto (congas).
Canadian Sunset would become a jukebox jazz hit. Hittin' the Jug and Blue Ammons were Ammons originals.
The beauty of Gene “Jug" Ammons was his bossy sound on ballads, blues and up-tempo tunes. His tone completely fills the space and he confidently zig-zags around a song, offering a clipped bark on the saxophone or laying down a long stream of improvisation.
Here's the complete Boss Tenor without ad interruptions...
The LP featured Gene Ammons (ts), Tommy Flanagan (p), Doug Watkins (b), Art Taylor (d) and Ray Barretto (congas).
Canadian Sunset would become a jukebox jazz hit. Hittin' the Jug and Blue Ammons were Ammons originals.
The beauty of Gene “Jug" Ammons was his bossy sound on ballads, blues and up-tempo tunes. His tone completely fills the space and he confidently zig-zags around a song, offering a clipped bark on the saxophone or laying down a long stream of improvisation.
Here's the complete Boss Tenor without ad interruptions...
This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
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