The Magnificent Goldberg Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 Hardly anyone mentions Al Grey here. I've just been listening to "JATP 1983" by Jaws, Sweets and Al. And I'm thinking how much I love that sound Al had, how moving and expressive it is compared with the thin sounds of J J Johnson or Curtis Fuller (I don't want to put those guys down, but they were into something else). Al was a basic swing man, but he could play modern stuff, too, and R&B and Soul material - and it always came out Al Grey - always tough and joyful at the same time, full of wit and humour. And funky as battered hell! I never had much interest in Al - he was always someone to whom I thought I'd eventually get around, though. And when I got Jimmy McGriff's "Blue to the 'bone" in 1990, I was knocked out. So I've got a dozen of Al's albums now. LURVE him! MG Quote
sidewinder Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 Somewhere I've got what looks to be a private issue LP by Al Grey with Jimmy Forrest from the 1970s signed by both of them. It's a live performance - will have to dig it out. From what I recall of seeing Mr Grey live around 10 or so years ago he was a great showman and certainly knew how to work up a crowd ! Quote
thomastreichler Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 Al Grey is a swinging soloist with a big fat tone and a distinctive style. He was with the Basie Big Band 1957-61 and 1971-77; his solos with the band were consistently fine. Grey made two nice albums on Chiaroscuro, "New Al Grey Quintet" and "Fab!", both featuring his son Mike, also a capable trombonist, and the powerful drumming of Bobby Durham. Grey can also be heard to good advantage on Clark Terry's "What A Wonderful World" (Red Barron, 1993) and with J.J. Johnson on "Things Are Getting Better All The Time" (Pablo, 1983). Quote
BillF Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 Al Grey was a tower of strength in the Gillespie orchestra in the late fifties. He takes some great solos on Dizzy Gillespie at Newport (Verve). Quote
Peter A Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 The Al Grey albums on Argo are also great fun (often with Billy Mitchell, Bobby Hutcherson and Dave Burns): LPS 653: The Last Of The Big Plungers (1959) LPS 677: The Thinking Man's Trombone (1961) LPS 689: The Al Grey-Billy Mitchell Sextet (1961) LPS 700: Snap Your Fingers (1962) LPS 711: Night Song (1962) LPS 718: Having A Ball (1963) LPS 731: Boss Bone (1964) Quote
mikeweil Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 There is a nice LP on Columbia that remained unissued at the time of recording but was released in the 1980's. Jimmy Forrest is in the band. Recommended. Never had a bad note from him - one of my favorite trombonists. He also wrote a method on "Plunger, mute & hat techniques for trumpet & trombone" after finding out that his son, who studied trombone, wasn't taught anything on these things! Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted February 22, 2008 Author Report Posted February 22, 2008 Al Grey was a tower of strength in the Gillespie orchestra in the late fifties. He takes some great solos on Dizzy Gillespie at Newport (Verve). I didn't know he was in Dizzy's band. Interesting versatility. I'll mark that one down for later acquisition. MG Quote
Dan Gould Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 Somewhere I've got what looks to be a private issue LP by Al Grey with Jimmy Forrest from the 1970s signed by both of them. It's a live performance - will have to dig it out. Was that Traveler's Lounge Live or perhaps O.D. - Out Dere? I picked up both of those here in south Florida, can't find them at the moment but iirc, the Traveler's Lounge thing was recorded here and because of that, you could still find a lot of copies down here long after it was released. I am very strongly with MG on this, I feel Al Grey's playing much more than JJ or Curtis, as much as I enjoy them too. Al's trombone was so full of life and just so darn fun to hear. The Chiaruscoro and Argo recommendations are spot-on. Quote
Free For All Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 Hardly anyone mentions Al Grey here. I've just been listening to "JATP 1983" by Jaws, Sweets and Al. And I'm thinking how much I love that sound Al had, how moving and expressive it is compared with the thin sounds of J J Johnson or Curtis Fuller (I don't want to put those guys down, but they were into something else). I love Al Grey! He was one of the nicest people I ever met. Lots of soul and greeeeze coming out the bell of that horn! I can't agree with the reference to JJ and Curtis, though. "Thin" is not how I'd ever describe either one of their sounds! Have you ever heard either one in person? Also, have you heard the record Al did w/JJ? I believe it was called Things Are Getting Better(Pablo). Quote
Big Al Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 The Al Grey albums on Argo are also great fun (often with Billy Mitchell, Bobby Hutcherson and Dave Burns): LPS 653: The Last Of The Big Plungers (1959) LPS 677: The Thinking Man's Trombone (1961) LPS 689: The Al Grey-Billy Mitchell Sextet (1961) LPS 700: Snap Your Fingers (1962) LPS 711: Night Song (1962) LPS 718: Having A Ball (1963) LPS 731: Boss Bone (1964) I only have SNAP YOUR FINGERS, and I love the way Mitchell, Grey, & Hutch all play off each other beautifully! Quote
Peter A Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 [i didn't know he was in Dizzy's band. Interesting versatility. I'll mark that one down for later acquisition. Talk about Dizzy... Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted February 22, 2008 Author Report Posted February 22, 2008 Hardly anyone mentions Al Grey here. I've just been listening to "JATP 1983" by Jaws, Sweets and Al. And I'm thinking how much I love that sound Al had, how moving and expressive it is compared with the thin sounds of J J Johnson or Curtis Fuller (I don't want to put those guys down, but they were into something else). I love Al Grey! He was one of the nicest people I ever met. Lots of soul and greeeeze coming out the bell of that horn! I can't agree with the reference to JJ and Curtis, though. "Thin" is not how I'd ever describe either one of their sounds! Have you ever heard either one in person? Also, have you heard the record Al did w/JJ? I believe it was called Things Are Getting Better(Pablo). Never seen either Curtis or JJ in person; neither has ever been to Cardiff. I've got the Yokohama album JJ did with Nat. And I haven't heard the album Al & JJ did together. It's on my list, but low down. Perhaps smooth would have been a better description of his sound; I just feel it lacks emotion, as a sound. MG Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted February 22, 2008 Author Report Posted February 22, 2008 [i didn't know he was in Dizzy's band. Interesting versatility. I'll mark that one down for later acquisition. Talk about Dizzy... Goodness! Did that one come out on OJC? MG Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted February 22, 2008 Author Report Posted February 22, 2008 Yes Hm, thanks. Still too much to buy. MG Quote
king ubu Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 Yes Hm, thanks. Still too much to buy. MG Oh yes, whom are you telling!!! But I gladly see you found the Grey/Sweets/Jaws 1983 set by now, and even happier to hear you like it! Quote
Free For All Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 I just feel it lacks emotion, as a sound. Interesting. The first time I heard JJ was on the Impulse record Proof Positive and I found his sound to be highly emotional and personal, to the point that it greatly affected my concept of playing the instrument. I consider SOUND to be one of the two most critical elements of playing the instrument (the other being TIME), upon which all other aspects(like melody, harmony and rhythm) are dependent. I respect what you're saying, though, MG. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one! Quote
sidewinder Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 Interesting. The first time I heard JJ was on the Impulse record Proof Positive and I found his sound to be highly emotional and personal, to the point that it greatly affected my concept of playing the instrument. A good example also is his recording 'Tangence' - recorded with Robert Farnon and Orchestra. To my mind, one of Johnson's most emotional recordings. Quote
Free For All Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 Interesting. The first time I heard JJ was on the Impulse record Proof Positive and I found his sound to be highly emotional and personal, to the point that it greatly affected my concept of playing the instrument. A good example also is his recording 'Tangence' - recorded with Robert Farnon and Orchestra. To my mind, one of Johnson's most emotional recordings. Yes, that's a good one. He also made a recording dedicated to his late wife Vivian which must have been an emotional undertaking. Quote
catesta Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 Yeah, I dig Al Grey. What's not to like? I not too long ago picked up a later Al Grey Telarc release but can't recall the title. I'll post it up when I get home. It's good stuff. And maybe it's just me, but there is something about the short solo he does on "I've Got You Under My Skin" with Sinatra and Basie that makes me smile everytime I hear it. Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted February 22, 2008 Author Report Posted February 22, 2008 I just feel it lacks emotion, as a sound. Interesting. The first time I heard JJ was on the Impulse record Proof Positive and I found his sound to be highly emotional and personal, to the point that it greatly affected my concept of playing the instrument. I consider SOUND to be one of the two most critical elements of playing the instrument (the other being TIME), upon which all other aspects(like melody, harmony and rhythm) are dependent. I respect what you're saying, though, MG. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one! And I you, too. MG Quote
Dan Gould Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 If it can be found, Shades of Grey on Ray Charles' Tangerine label is highly recommended. Sweets, Lock, Vi Redd, Grover Mitchell and Sonny Payne are in the band. Among the best of the non-Ray Charles Tangerine releases. Quote
catesta Posted February 23, 2008 Report Posted February 23, 2008 This is the one I picked up a few years back at a Junior Mance show. Recorded is 1995, with Grey are "Sweets" Edison, Jerome Richardson, Junior Mance, Ben Brown and Bobby Durham. Another fun one with Grey... Lionel Hampton, "Sweets", James Moody, Buddy Tate, Al Grey, Hank Jones, Milt Hinton and Grady Tate. Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted February 23, 2008 Author Report Posted February 23, 2008 This is the one I picked up a few years back at a Junior Mance show. Recorded is 1995, with Grey are "Sweets" Edison, Jerome Richardson, Junior Mance, Ben Brown and Bobby Durham. Another fun one with Grey... Lionel Hampton, "Sweets", James Moody, Buddy Tate, Al Grey, Hank Jones, Milt Hinton and Grady Tate. I've got "Centerpiece" and if the Hampton is as good as that, I want that one, too. MG Quote
BillF Posted February 23, 2008 Report Posted February 23, 2008 I remember that, after leaving the Gillespie orchestra, Al Grey and Billy Mitchell formed a quintet. I never heard any records. Did they make any? Quote
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