Bass On Top

£14.99

Format: LP, Vinyl

Out of stock

Genre:
Format: LP, Vinyl
Grade: New (About gradings)
SKU: 55443
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‘Bass on Top’, Paul Chambers’ second album for Blue Note was recorded on 14th July 1957. For this quartet recording, Chambers is joined by drummer Art Taylor, pianist Hank Jones and guitarist Kenny Burrell, whose playing is a highlight and a delight throughout.  The album begins with an unconventionally spin on Jerome Kern’s classic ‘Yesterdays’.  Chambers solos on the upright bass using a bow.  Classically trained, Chambers used it quite frequently, but at first it sounds unsettling in a Jazz setting. Cole Porter’s ‘You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To’ is given over to a prolonged Chambers bass solo, but nevertheless it grooves before Kenny Burrell and then Hank Jones both make eloquent contributions.  Charlie Parker’s ‘Chasin The Bird’ swings infectiously.  Jones and Burrell again excel on this flowing Jazz number that not only chases but it arrives.  The traditional Swedish folk song ‘Dear Old Stockholm’ championed by Stan Getz and Miles Davis is given a memorable work out with Chambers and Burrell soloing to mesmerising effect.  Miles used ‘The Theme’ as fade in or out of gigs (Art Blakey did too), but Chambers gives it a six-minute rendition on which he returns to the bow for his solo.  Hank Jones delivers a solo of real authority, and no little dexterity.  His playing is a real joy.  The album’s closer ‘Confessin’ is another rhythmic delight and easy come easy go groove.  Paul Chambers recorded just three times for Blue Note as leader and ‘Bass On Top’ is probably the most consistently enjoyable of those three.

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