Backgrounder: Lockjaw Davis - Lock, the Fox

Tenor saxophonist Eddie “Lockjaw" Davis recorded two stupendous albums for RCA in 1966. The first was a sextet album called Lock, the Fox in June. The full album without ads surfaced on YouTube a year ago. The other, The Fox and the Hounds, was a big band album recorded in November. The band was essentially Basie's orchestra without Basie, with arrangements by Bobby Plater. Unfortunately, this one seems to have alluded YouTube completely.

Both were produced by Brad McCuen, which was weird, since McCuen was a country music heavyweight for RCA at the time and highly regarded. Here's what Gary Burton had to say about him (here). McCuen loved jazz and must have known Lockjaw or loved his horn.

Lock, the Fox is exceptional on every level—the song choices, the groove and Lockjaw's tough sass. McCuen clearly knew how to get maximum value out of recording artists. Backing Lockjaw was Ross Tompkins (p), Les Spann (g), Russell George (b), Chuck Lampkin (d) and Ray Barretto (cga). Hopefully someone will post Lockjaw's The Fox and the Hounds soon.

Until then, here's Lock, the Fox (RCA) without ad interruptions...