Nathan Davis & Carmell Jones - The Hip Walk

[mjzee]

Reissue release date August 11:

Considered one of Nathan Davis’ best albums, and long a collector’s item, The Hip Walk was recorded in 1965, a time when the Afro-American Davis lived in Europe, working with such legends as Kenny Clarke, Art Blakey, Ray Charles, Dexter Gordon, Eric Dolphy and Woody Shaw. Nathan’s Kansas City school mate, trumpeter Carmell Jones – who e.g. worked with Horace Silver, Paul Kuhn, Eugen Cicero - comes along for the ride. A superb album of soulful, swinging jazz – the perfect companion when you feel the need to get in the groove. The album was remastered from the original analogue master tapes by Christoph Stickel (cs mastering) with the vinyl getting an AAA treatment. The original artwork is complimented by a supplement with additional liner notes, pictures, and a scan of the original master tape box. Until now, to get your hand on this early Davis LP you had to be lucky to purchase an expensive original pressing. Finally, it’s available again for everyone to enjoy! The album is featuring Jimmy Woode (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums) and Francy Boland (Piano).

[mjazzg]

Do you know which label is reissuing this?

[Ken Dryden]

MPS is reissuing it. I wrote the new liner notes for it and I believe they are including the original liner notes as well.

It was a nice surprise to get contacted by them out of the blue, as I don’t write a lot of liner notes.

It will be available on both LP and CD.

Edited September 9, 2023 by Ken Dryden

[sidewinder]

I picked up a nice MPS reissue of this in Germany back in the early 2000s (in fact I was in the store, Vinyl West Stuttgart, with fellow board member Aggie). Also have that MPS CD twofer with ‘Happy Girl’. So will pass - but good that it is back out again. How about a reissue of ‘Happy Girl’?

31 minutes ago, Ken Dryden said:

MPS is reissuing it. I wrote the new liner notes for it and I believe they are including the original liner notes as well.

Nice one. Maybe I should buy it again !

[Pim]

Nice! I’ve got the Two Originals cd but probably pick this one up.

[Ken Dryden]

Someone at MPS ran across my review of Two Originals and that’s what led me to getting the liner notes assignment. 

[Brad]

Thanks for the heads up. Pre-ordered. 

[romualdo]

12 hours ago, Pim said:

Nice! I’ve got the Two Originals cd but probably pick this one up.

same here, I'm drooling!!

love the cover pic

Tempted to get the vinyl this time

[GA Russell]

12 hours ago, Ken Dryden said:

Someone at MPS ran across my review of Two Originals and that’s what led me to getting the liner notes assignment. 

Ken, Cal Tjader recorded a song called Hip Walk.  Is this a different song?

[Eric]

Interesting tidbit - both Davis and Jones are from Kansas City and attended the University of Kansas (my alma mater).  Same for Bobby Watson on both counts.

[Ken Dryden]

1 hour ago, GA Russell said:

Ken, Cal Tjader recorded a song called Hip Walk.  Is this a different song?

Different song, this is a Nathan Davis original.

[Alex G]

16 hours ago, Ken Dryden said:

MPS is reissuing it. I wrote the new liner notes for it and I believe they are including the original liner notes as well.

It was a nice surprise to get contacted by them out of the blue, as I don’t write a lot of liner notes.

Bernie Grundman did the new mastering, it will be available on both LP and CD.

Are you sure it is Bernie mastering it as the first post mentions Christoph Stickel? I'm sure either will be fine but just looking for clarity.

[Ken Dryden]

I checked the final draft I sent and the press release is correct about who mastered it.

Heading to bed...

Edited June 12, 2023 by Ken Dryden

[GA Russell]

19 hours ago, Ken Dryden said:

Different song, this is a Nathan Davis original.

Thanks!

[Mark13]

It arrived today. Nice to finally have this hard-to-find record in its original artwork. And the sound-quality of this remastered edition is simply amazing.

One of the reissues of the year imo. Hopefully the good people at MPS will consider making 'Happy Girl' available too.

[Clunky]

Sound of the reissue is immaculate. Only minor grip is that the quality of the cover is pretty average.

[Tom 1960]

Just arrived in mail yesterday. Will be playing shortly.

[Ken Dryden]

Still awaiting my copy of the CD and getting paid for the liner notes. For some reason, the label won't use PayPal or any similar options, though they are paying the wire transfer fee.