Kai Winding - Kai Winding All Stars

It is particularly fitting that this Kai Winding album should appear at this time. Now that bop, as we knew it, has foundered — has drawn what seems to be its last fresh line, it has become necessary to be extra selective in our listening. From this fresh vantage point, it is now evident that only a handful of individuals contributed freshness and vitality to the most violent revolution which jazz has ever been through. And several of those individuals are herein present.

Kai Winding was one of the first of the young modern musicians to take the trouble and the trombone through the experimental stages that the other horns and instruments were exploring. He lent an enviable technique to jazz, best proof of which existed and exists in the fact that his work on valve or slide trombone is nearly interchangeable to even the trained ear.

But technique and speed are only two facets of the Winding talent. As a balladier or a bellower he is equally effective, most distinctive in the latter because of a strident, snarling, rather than growling, sound.

And Kai is surrounded here, happily, with some outstanding talent. The records which include Gerry Mulligan are Mulligan arrangements, early proof, if any is needed, of the Mulligan sounds and skills, and advance notices of similar ideas applied to the Miles Davis group. Brew Moore lends his tenor to all eight sides. Composer-pianist George Wallington gives distinction to the first four sides, pianist Lou Stein to the last four. Curley Russell and Max Roach swing as well on the first four as Jack Lesberg and Don Lamond do on the last. Instrumentally, then, this is practically an all-star group — the tunes and performances do justice to the roll-call of stars.

Throughout these eight sides is much of the best that modern music had or has to offer. Admirably performed, it’s all for the listener's long playing. *Bill Coss (liner notes)*

Side 1

1 - Wallington's Godchild

(Wallington)

2 - Bop City

(Winding)

3 - Sleepy Bop

(Winding)

4 - Crossing The Channel

(Mulligan)

Side 2

5 - Honey

(Gillespie, Simons, Whiting)

6 - Someone To Watch Over Me

(G. & I. Gershwin)

7 - Harem Buffet

(Winding)

8 - Cheek To Cheek

(Irving Berlin)

#1 to #4:

Kai Winding (trombone), Brew Moore (tenor sax), Gerry Mulligan (baritone sax), George Wallington (piano), Curly Russell (bass), Max Roach (drums).

Recorded in New York City, April 10, 1949.

#5 to #8:

Kai Winding (trombone), Brew Moore (tenor sax), Lou Stein (piano), Jack Lesberg (bass), Don Lamond (drums).

Recorded in New York City, July 13, 1951.