Search - Shirley Scott :: Blue Seven

Excellent, laid back, groovin' session

Watcher | 10/25/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an excellent organ quintet - it's very mellow, calm, but groovin' jazz. Some organists are loud, raucous party music, but Shirley is kinda bluesy, relaxed, laid back - she lets the organ flow rather than banging on it. Oliver Nelson has a beautiful tone on this album, and delivers some earthy, pretty, bluesy solos. Scott plays beautifully on the ballad "Nancy." This album is good, strait ahead jazz, without delving into atonality, and even tho it is laid back, the groove never gets trite. The blues are there, but never so obvious that it feels like a blues album with jazz solos - it is bop, but with a midnite groove. Joe Newman puts in some solid swinging trumpet work, especially with his mute, and never screeches. Scott has solid backup in her rhythm mates, George Tucker on bass, Roy Brooks on drums. The album was recorded in 1961.



The album has one bonus track - an extra tune, as opposed to a different take of one of the other numbers. Oddly, the bonus track, "How Sweet," is the second track, rather than the last. It was written by Scott, as was the third track, so maybe that's why. However, it flows well with the rest of the album, and adds to the flavor of the album. So often, bonus tracks are played in a completely different vein than the original album - hence the reason they were left off the original - but not so in this case.



This is a great album when you are in a relaxed mood - but it is not something to fall asleep too. Shirley and the boys get some good blowing in, they just keep everything in a solid, soulful groove."

Blue Seven, by Shirey Scott

Dan Blake | Nashville, TN | 03/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Excellent CD. This is what I call easy jazz, just sit back and relax. It comes in handy after a bad day of work. Dan"

QUINTET SESSION

John M. | 11/13/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a rare Shirley Scott quintet session. It features Joe Newman on trumpet and Oliver Nelson on tenor sax. It's in a somewhat down and groovy groove but Nelson gets in some strong moments too. There is an extra original track not included on the original LP. For more Joe and Oliver Nelson see Joe Newman- AT COUNT BASIE'S with a rhythm section led by pianist Lloyd Mayers."