Shirley Scott: Queen Talk: Live At The Left Bank

Queen Talk is a fitting title for the current release from the archivist label Reel to Real Records as Hammond B-3 organist Shirley Scott had the soubriquet "Queen of the organ" at the height of her career. This limited-edition hand-numbered 180 gram 2-LP set produced by Zev Feldman and Cory Weeds presents a never-before-released live 1972 recording from the Famous Ballroom in Baltimore. Other heavyweights on this outline are tenor saxophonist George Coleman, drummer Bobby Durham and, for three tracks, vocalist Ernie Andrews.

A Philadelphia native, Scott began playing in and around the area at an early age and, at twenty-one, she was in a trio with John Coltrane, supporting a vocal group called Hildy & The Peptones. By the time of this live session, she had long established her bona fides through her association with tenor-men such as Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Stanley Turrentine as well as several iterations of her own trio.

Side A opens with John Coltrane's composition "Impressions" and races along at break-neck speed. There are lots of long hot-tempered lines and squealing by Coleman, while Durham is a whirling dervish on the drum kit. Scott deftly works her way into this ring, punching above her weight. The other track is "Never Can Say Goodbye," with a slightly more infectious tempo which is more open, appealing and in control. Everyone has their say and for the most part is readily understood.

Side B features the session's longest track, "Witchcraft," the Cy Coleman composition which became a big hit for Frank Sinatra. However, instead of the finger snapping tempo favoured by Sinatra, the trio decides they want to test each other's endurance. It is unclear who the winner (or loser) is but, by the end of the track, Coleman has shown he is a soloist of fluency and speed.

Side C has three decidedly different compositional forms starting with the Red Garland number "Blues By Five" then the Jimmy Webb pop tune "By The Time I Get To Phoenix," and finally Charlie Chaplin's composition "Smile." It might have been expected that these disparate numbers would produce different tempos, but that is not the case. Up tempo swing is the order of the day and each player dives in with glee.

Side D is all vocalist Ernie Andrews on "You Don't Mess Around with Jim," "Girl Talk" and "Blues." Throughout the three numbers, Andrews shows his versatility, vocal flexibility, and ability to sustain and fortify the energy in the room with the strength of his personality. A fitting wind up to a to a blistering session.

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