Rare And Obscure Argo Recordings (IX)

Gene Shaw Quintet

Break Through

Originally released in 1964, Break Through is a superb, if obscure, hard bop solo debut by trumpeter Gene Shaw. Born in Detroit, Shaw is best known as a member of bassist Charles Mingus' ensemble in the late '50s. Recorded in Chicago, Break Through finds Shaw joined by tenor saxophonist Sherman Morrison, pianist James Taylor, bassist Sidney Robinson, and drummer Bernard Martin. Having studied at the Detroit Institute of Music, Shaw was obviously well schooled in the American popular songbook as well as post-bop theory, and such tunes as the Latin-tinged original "Marj", the sweetly laid-back midtempo take on Leonard Bernstein's "Tonight", and the burning and bluesy original concept piece "The Thing" reveal a knack for thoughtful melodic conception and harmonic development. Fittingly, trumpet player Shaw's sound falls somewhere between the soul-inflected approach of Lee Morgan and the more lyrical, minimal style of Kenny Dorham — the latter especially in his penchant for softly fluid lines whose prettiness belies a deft boppish complexity. All of which is to say that, while this stuff swings and grooves, Break Through is more of a searching, urbane, and reflective album than some of the more dance and groove-oriented sides many of Shaw's contemporaries were releasing at the time. *Matt Collar*

Rare genius from trumpeter Gene Shaw a player who worked famously with Charles Mingus (under the name Clarence Shaw) on the albums Tijuana Moods and East Coasting then disappeared from the scene after having a famous fight with his leader. After a few years of silence, Shaw resurfaced in Chicago with this brilliant debut as a leader for Argo Records — a wonderful album that s filled with as much soul and emotion as his sessions with Mingus. The group has a slightly modern take on hardbop often straight and hard-swinging, but with plenty of room for the players to really stretch out with a great deal of expression. Shaw's trumpet tone is amazing right up there with Lee Morgan or Kenny Dorham at their Blue Note best and the rest of the group is wonderful too — especially tenorist Sherman Morrison, whose work here is a real discovery. Chicago dates like this never got their due back in the day and this CD reissue finally brings Shaw s post-Mingus work into focus! *amazon.com*

An amazing record — bold, proud, and soulful — a set that we'd easily rank with any classic early 60s session on Blue Note — and for good reason too! This rare date is the debut as a leader for trumpeter Gene Shaw — also known as Clarence Shaw in an earlier history of work with Charles Mingus — and it's an incredible blend of hardbop grooving with sharper-edged modern jazz ideals — an incredible blend that comes off beautifully on every track in the set! Shaw's probably best known for his late 50s work on the Charles Mingus albums Tijuana Moods, East Coasting, and Modern Jazz Symposium Of Music & Poetry — but after a famous fight with Mingus, Clarence "hid out" in Chicago and worked under the name of Gene — but soon made big waves on his own with tremendous work like this. In the liner notes to the 1963 release of Tijuana Moods, in which Mingus says that he loved Shaw, but can't get in touch with him anymore! Every aspect of the record is superb — from the writing, to the rhythm section, to the incredibly well blown solos from trumpeter Shaw and tenorist Sherman Morrison — who himself is another vastly-overlooked talent in jazz. The rest of the group features James Taylor on piano, Sidney Robinson on bass, and Bernard Martin on drums — a totally crackling rhythm section who give most tunes a snapping sort of groove! Most tracks are originals, and titles include "Autum Walk", "Six Bits", "The Thing", "It's A Long Way", "AD's Blues", "Marj", and "Our Tune". *Dusty Groove, Inc.*

1 - Autumn Walk

(James Taylor)

2 - AD's Blues

(C. E. Shaw)

3 - Marj

(C. E. Shaw)

4 - Six Bits

(Carl Davis)

5 - The Thing

(C. E. Shaw)

6 - Tonight

(Leonard Bernstein)

7 - Our Tune

(Jack DeJohnette)

8 - It's A Long Way

(Carl Davis)

Clarence Eugene Shaw (trumpet), Sherman Morrison (tenor sax),

James Taylor (piano), Sidney Robinson (bass), Bernard Martin (drums).

Recorded at Ter Mar Recording Studio, Chicago, Illinois, October 11, 1962.