Herb Geller Quintet

Herb Geller

Stax Of Sax

Herb Geller is a blowing soloist. "STAX OF SAX" is Herb Geller blowing a whole lot of variety and mood and style out of his alto. Add to that solos, tempos and treatments, plus integrated teamwork from five of the best musicians out of the West.

"STAX OF SAX" puts the full style of Herb Geller on display. Here is evidence of the atmosphere and influence, the technical mastery and the assimilation. Here are Herb's statement in rhythm, in melody, in form and in content.

The group accomplish blends and effects in solo and ensemble work that point up the links of understanding from the pulse of the bass and the drums to the improvisations of the alto and the piano and the vibes. There is a unity of expresión and musical idea.

Herb Gelles is a blowing soloist. Herb Geller blows a whole lot of alto in "STAX OF SAX", piling imagination and feeling on esciting technique. *Mort Goode (liner notes)*

This somewhat obscure recording by the bop-oriented altoist Herb Geller features him in a 1958 quintet with vibraphonist Victor Feldman, pianist Walter Norris, bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Anthony Vazley. Other than a session for Atco, this was Geller's last American album until 1993; it would be 1975 before he recorded as a leader again. Geller is in fine form on three of his originals and two standards ("Change Partners" and "It Might as Well Be Spring"). Originally cut for Jubilee, this Fresh Sound CD is part of an extensive series that has brought back many forgotten dates from the 1950s. Bop collectors will enjoy this one. *Scott Yanow*

An incredible album from saxophonist Herb Geller — one that's quite different than his better-known sides for Mercury, and which features Geller blowing in an amazingly evocative tone! The first three tracks on the album are haunting originals by Herb — tunes that have a more open style than some of his more tightly arranged work, and which show the kind of fascination with sound structures that would show up much more heavily in later years. The group features Victor Feldman on vibes, Walter Norris on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Anthony Vazley on drums — and the mix of vibes with Geller's horn is an especially nice element, one that adds to the haunting feel of the whole set. Titles include "Nightmare Alley", "A Cool Day", "The Princess", "Change Partners", and "It Might As Well Be Spring". *Dusty Groove, Inc.*

1 - Nightmare Alley

(Herb Geller)

2 - A Cool Day

(Herb Geller)

3 - The Princess

(Herb Geller)

4 - Change Partners

(Irving Berlin)

5 - It Might As Well Be Spring

(Rodgers, Hammerstein)

Herb Geller (alto sax), Victor Feldman (vibes),

Walter Norris (piano), Leroy Vinnegar (bass), Anthony Vazley (drums).

Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, California, December 12, 1957

[other source gives: Recorded in Los Angeles, 1958]