René Thomas • Guitar Groove

 

Review
by Nathan Bush  
European guitarist Rene Thomas made his debut as a leader with this 1960 date for the Jazzland label. Residing in Quebec at the time, Thomas is joined by an American cast of characters on Guitar Groove. In the bass chair is Teddy Kotick, one-time member of the Horace Silver and Bill Evans groups. Tenor saxophonist J.R. Monterose joins the quintet, fresh from the dates for his own The Message. Albert "Tootie" Heath, then in between stints with J.J. Johnson and the Jazztet, lends his drum work, and Hod O'Brien fills in the gaps on piano. These are session musicians of the highest order: skilled improvisers who always know when to make concessions to a group setting. In addition to the three original numbers on hand, the quintet dips into the book of jazz standards, rendering Burke and VanHeusen's "Like Someone in Love," Gershwin's "How Long Has This Been Going On?," Thelonious Monk's "Ruby, My Dear," and Miles Davis' "Milestones." At times the players are almost too polite, though the spark provided by Heath's snare punctuation and vibrant fills generally keep the band on the ball. "Thomas" himself is in fine, refined form, his sound an exquisitely enunciated flow of cool tones. He reserves "How Long" for himself, stretching out over six minutes, accompanied only by Heath's brushwork and Kotick's reserved bass playing. Though he's made substantial contributions to dates with Chet Baker, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz, and others, Guitar Groove is arguably Thomas' strongest date as leader.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps68A-wXoVQ

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Reseña
por Nathan Bush  
El guitarrista europeo René Thomas debutó como líder con esta fecha de 1960 para el sello Jazzland. Residiendo en Quebec en ese momento, Thomas está acompañado por un elenco de personajes americanos en Guitar Groove. En la silla del bajo está Teddy Kotick, antiguo miembro de los grupos de Horace Silver y Bill Evans. El saxofonista tenor J.R. Monterose se une al quinteto, recién salido de las fechas de su propio The Message. Albert "Tootie" Heath, en ese momento entre sus etapas con J.J. Johnson y el Jazztet, presta su trabajo de batería, y Hod O'Brien rellena los huecos al piano. Se trata de músicos de sesión de primer orden: hábiles improvisadores que siempre saben cuándo hacer concesiones a un entorno de grupo. Además de los tres números originales, el quinteto se sumerge en el libro de estándares de jazz, interpretando "Like Someone in Love" de Burke y VanHeusen, "How Long Has This Been Going On" de Gershwin, "Ruby, My Dear" de Thelonious Monk y "Milestones" de Miles Davis. A veces, los músicos son casi demasiado amables, aunque la chispa proporcionada por la puntuación de la caja de Heath y los vibrantes rellenos generalmente mantienen a la banda en la pelota. El propio "Thomas" está en una forma fina y refinada, su sonido es un flujo exquisitamente enunciado de tonos fríos. Se reserva para sí mismo "How Long", que se extiende durante más de seis minutos, acompañado únicamente por las pinceladas de Heath y el reservado toque de bajo de Kotick. Aunque ha hecho importantes contribuciones a fechas con Chet Baker, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz y otros, Guitar Groove es posiblemente la fecha más fuerte de Thomas como líder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps68A-wXoVQ

Tracklist
1 - Spontaneous Effort 5:18
2 - Ruby, My Dear 4:46
3 - Like Someone In Love 5:50
4 - M.T.C. 4:22
5 - Milestones 5:47
6 - How Long Has This Been Going On? 5:57
7 - Green Street Scene 7:35


Credits:
    Bass – Teddy Kotick
    Design [Cover Design] – Ken Deardoff
    Drums – Albert Heath
    Guitar – René Thomas
    Piano – Hod O'Brien (tracks: 1 to 5, 7)
    Producer – Orrin Keepnews
    Remastered By – Phil De Lancie
    Tenor Saxophone – J.R. Monterose (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 7)

Notes: Recorded September 7 and 8, 1960.

Label: Original Jazz Classics – OJCCD-1725-2, Jazzland – JLP-927
Series: Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series
Released: 1992
Genre: Jazz
Style: Bop
https://www.discogs.com/release/4537198-Ren%C3%A9-Thomas-Quintet-Guitar-Groove

 

 

 

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