egroj world: Gene Ammons • Bad! Bossa Nova

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Gene Ammons • Bad! Bossa Nova



Review by Scott Yanow
This was Ammons' final recording before "being made an example of" and getting a lengthy jail sentence for possession of heroin; his next record would be cut over seven years later. The music is surprisingly upbeat, with Ammons joined by two guitars (Bucky Pizzarelli and Kenny Burrell), a fine rhythm section (pianist Hank Jones, bassist Norman Edge, and drummer Oliver Jackson), and the bongos of Al Hayes for a set of Latin-flavored jazz that was masquerading as bossa nova. The music is offbeat if not all that memorable, a decent effort but not essential.



Artist Biography by Scott Yanow
Gene Ammons, who had a huge and immediately recognizable tone on tenor, was a very flexible player who could play bebop with the best (always battling his friend Sonny Stitt to a tie) yet was an influence on the R&B world. Some of his ballad renditions became hits and, despite two unfortunate interruptions in his career, Ammons remained a popular attraction for 25 years.
Son of the great boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons (who was nicknamed "Jug") left Chicago at age 18 to work with King Kolax's band. 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. Drug problems kept him in prison during much of 1958-1960 and, due to a particularly stiff sentence, 1962-1969. When Ammons returned to the scene in 1969, he opened up his style a bit, including some of the emotional cries of the avant-garde while utilizing funky rhythm sections, but he was still able to battle Sonny Stitt on his own terms. Ironically the last song that he ever recorded (just a short time before he was diagnosed with terminal cancer) was "Goodbye."

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Reseña de Scott Yanow
Esta fue la última grabación de Ammon antes de "ser un ejemplo" y obtener una larga sentencia en la cárcel por posesión de heroína; su próximo disco se cortaría siete años más tarde. La música es sorprendentemente alegre, con Ammons acompañado por dos guitarras (Bucky Pizzarelli y Kenny Burrell), una buena sección rítmica (pianista Hank Jones, bajista Norman Edge y batería Oliver Jackson), y los bongos de Al Hayes para un conjunto de jazz de sabor latino que se hacía pasar por bossa nova. La música es insólita si no memorable, un esfuerzo decente pero no esencial.



Biografía del artista por Scott Yanow
Gene Ammons, que tenía un tono enorme e inmediatamente reconocible en el tenor, era un jugador muy flexible que podía tocar el bebop con los mejores (siempre luchando contra su amigo Sonny Stitt con un empate) y, sin embargo, era una influencia en el mundo del R&B. Algunas de sus interpretaciones de baladas se convirtieron en éxitos y, a pesar de dos desafortunadas interrupciones en su carrera, Ammons siguió siendo una atracción popular durante 25 años.
Hijo del gran pianista de boogie-woogie Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons (apodado "Jug") dejó Chicago a los 18 años para trabajar con la banda de King Kolax. Originalmente llegó a la fama como solista clave con la orquesta de Billy Eckstine durante 1944-1947, intercambiando con Dexter Gordon en el famoso disco de Eckstine Blowing the Blues Away. Aparte de una notable temporada con Woody Herman's Third Herd en 1949 y un intento de co-liderar un grupo de dos tenor a principios de los'50 con Sonny Stitt, Ammons trabajó como single a lo largo de su carrera, grabando frecuentemente (más notablemente para Prestige) en escenarios que iban desde cuartetos y combos de órgano hasta jam sessions de estrellas. Los problemas de drogas lo mantuvieron en prisión durante gran parte de 1958-1960 y, debido a una sentencia particularmente dura, de 1962-1969. Cuando Ammons regresó a la escena en 1969, abrió un poco su estilo, incluyendo algunos de los gritos emocionales de la vanguardia mientras utilizaba secciones rítmicas funky, pero aún así fue capaz de luchar contra Sonny Stitt en sus propios términos. Irónicamente, la última canción que grabó (poco antes de que le diagnosticaran un cáncer terminal) fue "Goodbye".
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gene-ammons-mn0000160198/biography


Tracklist:
1 - Pagan Love Song - 4:45
2 - Ca 'Purange (Jungle Soul) - 9:35
3 - Anna - 3:20
4 - Caé Caé - 3:46
5 - Moito Mato Grosso - 7:44
6 - Yellow Bird - 5:07


Credits:
    Bass – Norman Edge
    Bongos – Al Hayes
    Drums – Oliver Jackson
    Guitar [Spanish] – Bucky Pizzarelli
    Liner Notes – Del Shields
    Mastered By – Phil De Lancie
    Piano – Hank Jones
    Rhythm Guitar – Kenny Burrell
    Supervised By – Ozzie Cadena
    Tenor Saxophone – Gene Ammons

Notes:
Recorded in Englewood Cliffs, NJ; September 9, 1962. Engineer [Recording] – Rudy Van Gelder


Label: Prestige ‎– 7257, Prestige ‎– PR 7257, Prestige ‎– PRST 7257
Released: 1962
Genre: Jazz
Style: Bossa Nova, Latin Jazz




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