Search - Land, Jones Quintets :: Complete Studio Recordings

Harold Land-Carmell Jones Quintets Complete Studio Recording

Stuart Jefferson | San Diego,Ca | 10/11/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Two discs-79 minutes each approximately. Sound is clean and clear with a slight emphasis on the high end. Does not say if these tracks have been remastered. This is another one of those groups that was popular in it's time,and have now slipped between the cracks. That's to bad because this music is still as vital and exciting as it was when released.



Harold Land (tenor sax) is fairly well known even today,mainly because of his association with Max Roach and Clifford Brown and his excellent playing in the Curtis Counce Group(if you like straight ahead jazz pick up Counce's "Complete Master Takes")from the late fifties. Camell Jones(trumpet) has largely been forgotten and thats also to bad because he could play anything he was called upon to play. For a short time he played with Horace Silver,recording the original "Song For My Father". Moving to Europe didn't help his profile any but he did record on the west coast for a short time.



The other players on the four albums are collectively Gary Peacock,Red Mitchell and Jimmy Bond on bass;Leon Petttis,Donald Dean and Mel Lee on drums;Frank Strazzeri and Jimmy Houston on piano. The songs range from traditional to standards to originals from group members. The emphasis is on Land and especially Jones,whose beautiful sound is out front on most of these sides. Land,as usual,plays just enough notes to get his meaning across or comps in the background while Jones solos. However,when Land solos it always seems to sound just right. The rhythm section is always there but never intrusive. For those of you who are familiar with the "Blue Note" sound,Jones' at times sounds like Alfred Lion could have recorded him. As for Land,the fact that he isn't more well known is a crime. His playing is always of the highest caliber,and time after time he plays the right notes at just the right time.



The booklet includes reprints of the original liner notes for all four albums and gives a short overview of Jones and Land. For those of you looking for some great straight ahead jazz from the early sixties that sounds contemporary-pick this up-you will not be sorry. As an aside,look into "J.R.Monterose-Original Quartet and Quintet Complete Studio Recordings",another somewhat forgotten tenor sax player who deserves to be heard. This,too,is jazz played at a high level and is very rewarding."

An Embarrassment of Riches!

Wayne Dawson | New Zealand | 02/05/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This compilation is full to the brim of fantastic music making. The running order is chronological and spans a three year four album period of creativity that started in 1961 with The Remarkable Carmell Jones and Hear Ye!, followed by four quintet tracks lifted off Business Meetin' (the rest of that 1962 session involved a larger ensemble) and concludes with Jazz Impressions of Folk Music in '63.



The abundance of fabulous ensemble writing is given an added surprise by the presence of Gary Peacock on bass for almost half the material. His vitality catapults the whole band, making these sessions a great snapshot of his ability before he linked up with Albert Ayler.



These recordings easily hold their own with the legendary Clifford Brown/Max Roach band and The Curtis Counce Group. Carmell's warm and generous tone coupled with his inventive soloing sounds wonderful but the awesome legacy of Harold Land is insane. Not only was he a vital ingredient to the staggering brilliance of those aforementioned groups including these sessions and the high standard of excellence they achieved, but other recordings under his own name are equally superb: Harold in the Land of Jazz; The Fox; West Coast Blues; Eastward Ho; The Peace Maker. Surely he remains one of the greatest uncelebrated legends in all jazz. This compilation helps redress the neglect of both Carmell and Harold, a bouquet for those responsible!

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