The Complete Vee Jay Sessions 1954-1961

RELEASE
LABEL
Mosaic
GENRES
Jazz, Hard Bop

Album Review

Paul Chambers and Wynton Kelly are best known for their work with Miles Davis, though they appeared together on numerous other albums by a host of artists. This Mosaic compilation gathers their entire master takes for the label, along with any viable surviving alternates, with both men generally playing at a consistently high level. The two men are joined by their associate in Davis' rhythm section, drummer Jimmy Cobb, along with Cannonball Adderley and Freddie Hubbard for the sessions which made up Chambers' Go. The bassist effectively demonstrates his ability playing arco in both takes of "Just Friends," while Adderley's funky solo adds to the flavor of Hubbard's arrangement. For the session which produced 1st Bassman, Tommy Turrentine is the trumpeter, with tenor saxophonist Yusef Lateef (who composed all of the selections for this date), trombonist Curtis Fuller and drummer Lex Humphries joining Chambers and Kelly. "Melody" has little in the way of a theme, but its focus in on the leader's superb bassline, though each player's solo is memorable. Lateef switches to flute for his haunting ballad, which again features Chambers' warm arco technique. Kelly's first label date under his name adds Wayne Shorter (in his debut studio recording) and Lee Morgan, both on loan from Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, with Philly Joe Jones taking over on drums. Aside from the infrequently performed "June Night," the focus is on originals by the participants. Kelly steals the show with his medium tempo blues shuffle "Wrinkles," though Shorter's explosive "Mama G" merits high praise, too. Kelly's remaining Vee Jay sessions are trio affairs. The one released as Kelly at Midnight is rounded out by Philly Joe Jones, including Kelly's blues "Pot Luck" and the swinging "Temperance," with some choice brushwork by Jones. The trio also excels in two numbers written by guitarist Rudy Stevenson, along with a surprisingly good arrangement of singer Babs Gonzales' "Lullaby of the Doomed." The final sessions, issued as Kelly!, include numerous alternate takes, a few of which are previously unissued. The personnel is the same, aside from Sam Jones replacing an ill Paul Chambers on the last few songs. An inspired jazz-waltz treatment of "Someday My Prince Will Come" (with four separate takes) and a half-dozen versions of Joe Zawinul's catchy hard bop vehicle "Scotch and Water" stand out particularly. Cobb returns to the drums, along with the addition of the tragically short-lived trumpeter Booker Little for alto saxophonist Frank Strozier's session. The leader's relaxed slow blues "Lucka Duce" (strangely omitted from the original release), his twisting "A Starling's Theme" and the strutting "Tibbit" are among the highlights, though the two takes of the standard "Just in Time" come off a bit tentative. As soloists, both Strozier (whose contributions are badly underappreciated) and Little are in top form, backed by their seasoned rhythm section. Sadly, this valuable limited-edition boxed set has lapsed from print and will likely command a premium price at auction.
Ken Dryden, Rovi

Track Listing

  1. Ease It [Alternate Take]
  2. Ease It
  3. Just Friends [Alternate Take]
  4. Just Friends
  5. I Got Rhythm [Alternate Take]
  6. I Got Rhythm
  7. Dear Ann
  8. Julie Ann
  9. I Heard That
  10. I Heard That [Tk 8]
  11. Dear Ann [Remake Tk 2][Take]
  12. Dear Ann [Remake Tk 3][Take]
  13. I Heard That [Remake Tk 1][Take]
  14. Awful Mean [Alternate Take]
  15. Awful Mean
  16. Shades of Blue
  17. There Is No Greater Lovw
  18. Melody
  19. Bass Region
  20. Retrogress
  21. Mopp Show Blues
  22. Blessed
  23. Wrinkles
  24. June Night
  25. Mama "G"
  26. What Know
  27. Sydney
  28. Lucka Duce [Alternate Take]
  29. Lucka Duce
  30. A Starling's Theme [Alternate Take]
  31. A Starling's Theme
  32. Tibbit
  33. Studio Chatter
  34. Just in Time [Take 2]
  35. Just in Time [Take 3]
  36. Runnin' [First Version]
  37. W.K. Blues
  38. I Don't Know [Alternate Take]
  39. I Don't Know
  40. Runnin' [Alternate Take]
  41. Runnin'
  42. Waltz of the Demons [Alternate Take]
  43. Waltz of the Demons
  44. Off Shore [Alternate Take]
  45. Off Shore
  46. Pot Luck
  47. Skatin'
  48. On Stage
  49. Weird Lullaby
  50. Temperance
  51. Scotch and Wter (AKA Joe's Avenue) [Take 1]
  52. Scotch and Water (AKA Joe's Avenue) [Tk 4]
  53. Scotch and Water (AKA Joe's Avenue) [Tk 9]
  54. Scotch and Water (AKA Joe's Avenue)
  55. Scotch and Water (AKA Joe's Avenue)
  56. Scotch and Water (AKA Joe's Avenue)
  57. Someday My Prince Will Come [Take 2]
  58. Someday My Prince Will Come [Take 3]
  59. Someday My Prince Will Come [Take 5]
  60. Someday My Prince Will Come [Take 6]
  61. Autumn Leaves [First Alt TK]
  62. Autumn Leaves [Second Alt TK]
  63. Autumn Leaves
  64. Char's Blues
  65. Char's Blues [First Alt TK]
  66. Char's Blues [Second Alt TK]
  67. Autumn Leaves [Remake]
  68. The Surrey With the Fringe on Top [Alternate Take]
  69. The Surrey With the Fringe on Top
  70. Love, I've Found You
  71. Gone With the Wind
  72. Come Rain or Come Shine
  73. Make the Man Love Me
  74. Sassy