Gene Ammons - Blue Gene

While adept in the aspects of bebop, in particular its love of harmonic substitutions, Gene Ammons more than Lester Young, Ben Webster or Charlie Parker, stayed in touch with the commercial blues and R&B of his day.

Also known as "The Boss", Gene was a jazz tenor saxophonist and the son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons. Gene Ammons began to gain recognition when he went on the road with trumpeter King Kolax's band in 1943 at the age of 18. He originally came to fame as a key soloist with Billy Eckstine's orchestra during 1944-1947, trading off with Dexter Gordon on the famous Eckstine record Blowing the Blues Away. Other than a notable stint with Woody Herman's Third Herd in 1949 and an attempt at co-leading a two tenor group in the early '50s with Sonny Stitt, Ammons worked as a single throughout his career, recording frequently (most notably for Prestige) in settings ranging from quartets and organ combos to all-star jam sessions.

The final of his series of jam sessions for Prestige features an excellent septet (the leader on tenor, trumpeter Idrees Sulieman, baritonist Pepper Adams, pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Doug Watkins, drummer Art Taylor and Ray Barretto on congas) stretching out on three original blues and the ballad "Hip Tip"; all four pieces were written by Waldron. Few surprises occur but everyone plays up to their usual high level. *Scott Yanow*

Way more than just an album with Gene Ammons as a leader —and instead, a set that truly earns the "all stars" listed on the cover — thanks to a great array of supporting players, and a very loose, open-ended jam session style that lets everyone get in plenty of solo space! Ammons' tenor is tremendous, but he's also a great collaborator here, too —working with Idrees Suliman on trumpet, Pepper Adams on baritone, Mal Waldron on piano, Art Taylor on drums, Doug Watkins on bass, and Ray Barretto on conga— in a mode that's maybe slightly tighter than some of the blowing sessions Prestige was doing at the time, but which still has that key longform creative energy that made the hardbop generation so great. Titles include "Blue Gene", "Scamperin", "Blue Greens 'N Beans", and "Hip Tip" — band all tracks are long, with plenty of focus on solos! *dustygroove.com*

Side 1

1 - Blue GeneMal Waldron

2 - Scamperin'

Side 2

3 - Blue Greens 'N Beans

4 - Hip Tip

(All compositions by Mal Waldron)

Gene Ammons (tenor sax), Idrees Suliman (trumpet), Pepper Adams (baritone sax), Mal Waldron (piano), Doug Watkins (bass), Arthur Taylor (drums), Ray Barretto (conga).

Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey, May 2, 1958.