Search - Tommy Flanagan :: Beyond the Blue Bird

If You Like Tommy Flanagan, This Is The One!

Robert J. Ament | Ballwin, MO United States | 12/11/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The copy I'm reviewing is NOT the import!If you get this album, you're getting Flanagan at his best! He placed first in the "Downbeat" Readers' Poll and the "JazzTimes" Readers' and Critics' Polls the year (1990) this was recorded. He certainly was one of the best and the embodiment of flawless and tasteful playing.The "Bluebird" is the place where a lot of Detroit jazz artists such as Flanagan, Kenny Burrell, Milt Jackson, Thad Jones, Elvin Jones, Pepper Adams and tenor man Billy Mitchell started.The other members of the quartet, besides Tommy, are guitarist Kenny Burrell, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Lewis Nash.....it doesn't get any better than this! This seems to be a really inspirational recording session. The first five selections are played in a very contemporary style but date back to that era: "Blubird" (Charlie Parker), "Yesterdays" (Jerome Kern), "50-21" (Thad Jones), "Blues In My Heart" (Benny Carter), and "Barbados" Charlie Parker).The remainder of the set starts off with a beautiful original by Flanagan, "Beyond The Bluebird". Kenny Burrell lays out of the next two and we get some fine trio work on a bossa treatment of "Nascimento", written by Barry Harris. "The Con Man" serves as a fast blues showcase for Nash and Mraz. Kenny rejoins for the final two, "Something Borrowed Something Blue" (Flanagan) and his own composition, "Bluebird After Dark".This is just fantastically good bop and mainstream in a variety of tempos that you probably won't want to take out of your player!"