HARRY “SWEETS” EDISON - The Inventive Mr Edison/Jawbreakers
American Jazz Classics 99108
The Inventive Mr Edison
Tracks 1 to 7
Harry “Sweets” Edison ( tpt ) Arnold Ross ( pno ) Joe Comfort ( bass ) Alviin Stoller ( drs )
Recorded The Haig Club, Los Angeles, 1st July 1953
Jawbreakers
Tracks 8 to 15
Harry “Sweets” Edison ( tpt ) Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis ( tnr ) Hugh Lawson ( pno ) Ike Isaacs ( bass ) Clarence Johnston ( drs )
Recorded New York, 18th April 1962
The “Inventive Mr Edison” was first issued in the U.K. as a 10” LP titled “Sweets at the Haig” and remains his only quartet album, the title was self-explanatory as it contained exactly what it said on the sleeve.
Edison was on top form and this recording has rarely been bettered and along with a superb rhythm section it is a wonderful listening experience.
The album opens with a nicely paced “September in the rain” with Edison playing some incisive open trumpet and with Alvin Stoller’s cunning interjections with have the elements of a first class track.
Edison although a technically a fine trumpet player was often accused of playing a bunch of his favorite licks which over the years turned into cliches but on hearing this album he was much more inventive player than that.
“Pennies from heaven” opens with Arnold Ross setting the pace with some free flowing piano and his solo is his best on the album and again it is Alvin Stoller who lifts the track to another level.
The Arnold Ross discography is large and it is a bonus that he is in such good form and he gets his chance to shine on a ballad version of “These foolish things” .
It’s a pity Sweets did not make more albums of this quality during his recording career but we must be grateful for this release.
“Jawbreakers” is a much more conventional Harry Edison date being joined in the frontline by Eddie ’Lockjaw’ Davis which is usually occupied by Ben Webster. Like Edison, ’Lockjaw’ has his favourite licks and all are on display on this session with Harry Edison sticking to muted trumpet.
The rhythm section is adequate rather than inspiring but pianist Hugh Lawson has his moments especially on the Miles Davis composition “Four” which also has one of Edison’s better solos.
The ballad “I’ve got a crush on you” is given a sympathetic treatment with Harry Edison opening with the verse and ’Lockjaw’ takes an impassioned solo.
As a two LP release this is good value displaying two sides of Harry Edison’s recorded output but it is the “Inventive Mr Edison” that shines and is worth the price of the album alone.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
American Jazz Classics 99108
The Inventive Mr Edison
Tracks 1 to 7
Harry “Sweets” Edison ( tpt ) Arnold Ross ( pno ) Joe Comfort ( bass ) Alviin Stoller ( drs )
Recorded The Haig Club, Los Angeles, 1st July 1953
Jawbreakers
Tracks 8 to 15
Harry “Sweets” Edison ( tpt ) Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis ( tnr ) Hugh Lawson ( pno ) Ike Isaacs ( bass ) Clarence Johnston ( drs )
Recorded New York, 18th April 1962
The “Inventive Mr Edison” was first issued in the U.K. as a 10” LP titled “Sweets at the Haig” and remains his only quartet album, the title was self-explanatory as it contained exactly what it said on the sleeve.
Edison was on top form and this recording has rarely been bettered and along with a superb rhythm section it is a wonderful listening experience.
The album opens with a nicely paced “September in the rain” with Edison playing some incisive open trumpet and with Alvin Stoller’s cunning interjections with have the elements of a first class track.
Edison although a technically a fine trumpet player was often accused of playing a bunch of his favorite licks which over the years turned into cliches but on hearing this album he was much more inventive player than that.
“Pennies from heaven” opens with Arnold Ross setting the pace with some free flowing piano and his solo is his best on the album and again it is Alvin Stoller who lifts the track to another level.
The Arnold Ross discography is large and it is a bonus that he is in such good form and he gets his chance to shine on a ballad version of “These foolish things” .
It’s a pity Sweets did not make more albums of this quality during his recording career but we must be grateful for this release.
“Jawbreakers” is a much more conventional Harry Edison date being joined in the frontline by Eddie ’Lockjaw’ Davis which is usually occupied by Ben Webster. Like Edison, ’Lockjaw’ has his favourite licks and all are on display on this session with Harry Edison sticking to muted trumpet.
The rhythm section is adequate rather than inspiring but pianist Hugh Lawson has his moments especially on the Miles Davis composition “Four” which also has one of Edison’s better solos.
The ballad “I’ve got a crush on you” is given a sympathetic treatment with Harry Edison opening with the verse and ’Lockjaw’ takes an impassioned solo.
As a two LP release this is good value displaying two sides of Harry Edison’s recorded output but it is the “Inventive Mr Edison” that shines and is worth the price of the album alone.
Reviewed by Roy Booth