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The Three-Peat is a Bit of a Repeat

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 02/01/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As the reviews below are not very helpful, I will try to contribute one that is. As I have indicated in my reviews of the first two Poll Winners CDs, Guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Shelly Manne were the people's choice on their instruments in the late 1950s. Since they had recorded together in the past (with a variety of frontmen), it was only natural that they try to reap the financial rewards of their popularity by forming the Poll Winners Trio. Their third album, "Poll Winners Three!" recorded on November 2, 1959, is perfectly good but the formula of running through the standards of the day is getting a bit repetitive. The album's three originals, "Crisis," "The Little Rhumba," and "Minor Mystery" contributed by Kessel, Manne and Brown respectively, offer some differentiation, and the performances of "Soft Winds" and "Easy Living" are excellent, but the true spirit of these trio collaborations are best captured on the first two albums. "Three!" and "Exploring the Scene" are certainly less about cashing in than their 1975 reunion album "The Straight Ahead," but for my money I would start at "poll" position."

A winner album

Jazzcat | Genoa, Italy Italy | 08/03/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I heard that Barney Kessel passed away last may. This is the right occasion to tribute his talent rewieving this album. 1959 was running when this album was released. Just two years were passed since the Jazz zenith, 1957, but the freshness was still there. At least in the hands of these three poll winners, Barney, Ray and Shelly for sure. What separate this guitar /doublebass/ drums trio from trios of the same category are two things. Fantasy and fun. Fantasy because these three giants approach every tune with a different mind, contributing with fresh harmonic, melodic and moreover rythmical ideas, so the tune still if it is a well known standard finds new life. Few guitar based trios have the ability to sound fresh and inventive. The guitar has some idiosyncrasis which make it difficult for the guitarist to be interesting as a band leader. Only few did it successfully, Montgomery, Kessel,.. very, very few. The second is fun. Jazz surely should be deep musically but it should be funny too. These guys never forget this rule. They create interest, they are always ironic, and more than anything else they don't ever forget to swing hard. A special mention should be done to Barney because he has in the trio format, the greatest weight to carry. I don't want to steal you the surprise of hearing for yourself what were able to create these guys, talking about the tunes contained here. It will be enough to say that these guys were winners, and rightly so."

The best of the best

amundson@atlantic.net | Palm Harbor, Fl United States | 11/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"All of the pollwinners recordings are great, but this one really stands out. The tunes and the playing is so hip. Ray, Manne, and Kessel where really at their best."