Search - Buddy Tate, Claude Hopkins :: Buddy & Claude

Two Old Swingers!

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 07/14/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Those familiar with my recent reviews on Amazon are aware that I have spent considerable time (and unfortunately money) over the past year tracking down various Fantasy/OJC jazz CDs before they go out-of-print. Thankfully, I have been able to pick up the majority of them rather inexpensively from Newbury Comics stores in New England, but others I have to be lucky enough to come across used here in the Marketplace. Just the other day I was fortunate to come across one such title, "Buddy & Claude." This Prestige two-fer features two albums originally made for the Swingville label -- pianist Claude Hopkins' "Yes Indeed!" recorded on March 25, 1960 and tenor saxophonist Buddy Tate's "Tate-A-Tate" from October 18th of the same year. The first session also features Tate (hence the CD's title), along Emmett Berry on trumpet, Wendell Marshall on bass and Osie Johnson on drums, while the second date features Clark Terry on trumpet, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Larry Gales on bass and Art Taylor on drums. Considering the number of former big-band players gathered here, there is no surprise that these records are totally swinging affairs, yet there is still time for a more modern push, especially with the Flanagan rhythm trio leading the way on the latter record. Interested parties should check out "Buddy & Claude" while they're still around."