Search - Young Men from Memphis, Frank Strozier, Jr. Phineas Newborn :: Down Home Reunion: Young Men (24bt)

Memphis Gathering STAR OF THE NIGHT BOOKER LITTLE

Ralph Giordano | San Diego | 03/21/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Grab this just because there is Booker Little, I know it's pricy, but if you still dig records you might find a japanese reissue for much less. Back to the review Booker is featured on just two tracks, this was cut while he was with Max Roach. The blusy tunes just emphasize all over this record on the first two tracks, but the last two emphasize a bebop feel with some great work on the air instruments. A+++ just wih there were more from this bunch"

The Memphis Boys return Home

Herbert L Calhoun | Falls Church, VA USA | 06/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This much under rated classic has endured. It is a "one of a kind meeting of the musical minds" of eight superstars from the Memphis Tennessee jazz constellation: Booker Little, George Coleman, Charles Crosby, Louis Smith, Phineas Newborn, George Joyner, Calvin Newborn, and Frank Strozier's maiden voyage, make this an unforgettable jazz experience. Memphis was once as fertile with Jazz talent as New York, but has always been vastly under-rated, as this album clearly demonstrates. Most of these young Turks went on to be stars in their own right.



Even those who are unfamiliar with this cast of characters will enjoy the "utter tightness" of the group, especially the beautiful rendition of "After Hours." I do not know of another version that even comes close!



This also is perhaps the best illustration of the much under-rated pianist Phineas Newborn who with his two-handed improvised solos is a genius in a class of his own. Later artists have tried to mimic him but not with much success. There too is of course also the incomparable Booker Little on trumpet and George Coleman on tenor -- who had a brief stint with Miles Davis before John Coltrane took over the old Sonny Rollins' seat.



Modern Jazz with a deeply rooted Blues flavoring, hardly ever gets better than this. Five stars"