Pettiford/Burke
Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 11/11/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Originally the two sessions on this CD were 10" Bethlehem dates that were combined on a 12" LP and issued in 1955. The first half features Oscar Pettiford with Charlie Rouse (ts) Julius Watkins (frhrn) and Duke Jordan (p). SEXTETTE, a Gerry Mulligan tune that he first recorded with Chet Baker in 1953, is taken up-tempo and has some great Rouse tenor on it. GOLDEN TOUCH is a Pettiford feature, and his powerful, booming sound is well-captured. Watkins gets the spotlight on the ballad EDGE OF LOVE. Throughout these sides there is excellent crisp brush work by drummer Ron Jefferson.
The Vinnie Burke sides showcase Ronnie Odrich (cl) Don Burns (accor) and Joe Cinderella (g). Odrich, who I'd never heard of before, has a swinging modern approach, similar to Buddy DeFranco. He comes across best on the up-tempo items (THE CONTINENTAL and, especially, HONEYSUCKLE ROSE). SOFTLY AS IN A MORNING SUNRISE is a feature for Burke with outer space sounds from Cinderella's guitar in the background - a very strange performance. Burns takes a nice solo on ON THE ALAMO, more single noted than chordal, which gives his axe a relaxed, light feel. My only complaint with these Burke sides is that there's a bit of distortion on the original tapes that make the CD sound less than perfect. But I haven't seen this CD around too much, and if you dig Pettiford or Burke or modern jazz bass in general, you might want to latch on to it if you do find it."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1