Choosing a Select

[montg]

It's time to get my Christmas list in order--I'm thinking the Granz jam session for the box set (a break for tradition with me as I usually go for a Mosaic box). I'll supplement the Granz set with a Select--in choosing among these three Selects I'm wondering if one stands out from the other two....The Amy, Chambers, or Reece? Any recommendations?

[JohnS]

They're all excellent. I'd choose the one with the least familiar music. In my case it was the Amy. But I wouldn't be without any of them.

Edited November 23, 2004 by JohnS

[DrJ]

They are all superb (I actually don't have the Amy Mosaic Select but have all the sessions - the prior West Coast Classic of KATANGA! and the rest on CD-R burns from LP).

Personal favorite is Dizzy Reece, to me it's on a whole other level of artistry. Next would be the Chambers, then Amy (nothing at all wrong with it, very very good, but just not quite in that same league as the others to me).

The "counter argument" is that most of the Amy stuff will probably NEVER see legit reissue as individual albums, while the Chambers and Reece original albums (at least most of the sessions) will probably go in and out of print again over time, in both the US and Japan.

Edited November 23, 2004 by DrJ

[Stefan Wood]

Curtis Amy. Nuff said.

[Dan Gould]

Amy, both for Tony's reasons and because its a great set.

Unless, that is, you have a kneejerk antipathy towards organs, as the first two sessions are the Curtis Amy-Paul Bryant band.

[sidewinder]

Curtis Amy, on the strength of 'Katanga' alone.

[Brad]

Amy for all reasons mentioned above. The vibes sessions really are awesome.

[pryan]

I'd be inclined to check out the Reece. Some great sidemen on that one - just check out the discography on the website. That's going to be my next Select, in all likelihood.

[Dig'Em]

So how's the Curtis Amy other than the Katanga sessions (which I already have)?

[wesbed]

Of the three listed Selects I would go with the Curtis Amy. Go to Mosaic's website and listen to 'Native Land.' I believe this single song is worth the price of admission on its own. This song is not representative of the entire set. Keep in mind, this is a Mosaic set.

The first few tracks are kind of a funky jazz featuring saxophone and organ. Some on this Board have written they don't like the saxophone & organ material. I'm not sure why. This is very good music to my ears. All three disks are very nice.

To me, you can't go wrong with the Curtis Amy Select. The Paul Chambers and Dizzy Reece are good too. All three listed Mosaics would be welcomed to my collection. Of these three, however, I'd purchase the Amy first.

Edited November 23, 2004 by wesbed

[sal]

I'll go against the majority and say the Paul Chambers. Nearly two full discs of Coltrane....what else do you need? Plus, lots of great players on there like Donald Byrd, Kenny Burrell, Art Blakey and Sonny Clark. Its some really, really tight music. I find myself revisiting it quite often.

[pryan]

Sonny Clark is not on the PC set, but there are other sublime pianists such as Kenny Drew, Tommy Flanagan, and Hank Jones.

[DrJ]

The Reece is good, no question, but it's definitely NOT something to get primarily because of the sidemen, Pryan. While they're fine, it's Reece who is the hands down star throughout, not just his playing (which is superb) but to me even more so his gift for writing and arranging. There are some fantastic originals - "Blues in Trinity," "Sands," "The Case of the Frightened Lover" just to name some of my favorites, some of the least hackneyed, freshest hard bop writing of the era. Not to mention great takes on standards - perhaps best exemplified by his masterful reading of "Tenderly."

I think once you hear all these Reece Blue Notes, you'll be hooked.

Why he wasn't a bigger star is beyond me.

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

Why he wasn't a bigger star is beyond me.

After helping a hard bop 'newbie' with a few Mobley selections up at the Virgin store in Times Square.......decided to steer him toward Dizzy Reece (said he liked trumpet) but discovered that there were no titles at hand. When I inquired about this w/the clerk working the jazz section, I was somewhat stunned to hear him say that he wasn't familiar w/Reece. He'd worked there for awhile too.

[sheldonm]

[When I inquired about this w/the clerk working the jazz section, I was somewhat stunned to hear him say that he wasn't familiar w/Reece. He'd worked there for awhile too.

[B. Goren.]

I'll go against the majority and say the Paul Chambers.  Nearly two full discs of Coltrane....what else do you need?  Plus, lots of great players on there like Donald Byrd, Kenny Burrell, Art Blakey and Sonny Clark.  Its some really, really tight music.  I find myself revisiting it quite often.

I absolutely agree with sal.

[White Lightning]

I'll go against the majority and say the Paul Chambers.  Nearly two full discs of Coltrane....what else do you need?  Plus, lots of great players on there like Donald Byrd, Kenny Burrell, Art Blakey and Sonny Clark.  Its some really, really tight music.  I find myself revisiting it quite often.

I absolutely agree with sal.

PC is great and all, but do you dig his arco work? I find it annoying, thus I prefer mr PC as a sideman rather than as a leader.

[White Lightning]

I'd say get the Amy mosaic, if you don't mind organ sessions.

[B. Goren.]

I'll go against the majority and say the Paul Chambers.  Nearly two full discs of Coltrane....what else do you need?  Plus, lots of great players on there like Donald Byrd, Kenny Burrell, Art Blakey and Sonny Clark.  Its some really, really tight music.  I find myself revisiting it quite often.

I absolutely agree with sal.

PC is great and all, but do you dig his arco work?

Yes!!!

[montg]

Thanks for the feedback..I'll probably get them all at some point, but the Amy sounds really good. I had forgotten that a lot of the sessions feature vibes (Hutcherson and Ayers) which is a big plus for me. And I like the organ/tenor combo..so it looks like Curtis Amy's going to be under the old Christmas tree this year.

[pryan]

PC's arco work is beautiful, just like the rest of his bass playing. My favorite bassist, bar none. I wish he didn't pass away at such a young age.