egroj world: Donald Byrd-Gigi Gryce • Jazz Lab

Monday, December 11, 2023

Donald Byrd-Gigi Gryce • Jazz Lab

Review by Stephen Cook
Alto saxophonist/arranger Gigi Gryce and trumpeter Donald Byrd's innovative, but unfortunately short-lived Jazz Lab Quintet recorded several sides during 1957, seven of which were released on this excellent Columbia album (a handful of other titles were collectively made for Riverside, Verve, and RCA). The nucleus band of Gryce, Byrd, pianist Tommy Flanagan (a spot also filled by Wade Legge and Hank Jones), bassist Wendell Marshall, and drummer Art Taylor are augmented on four cuts here by trombonists Benny Powell and Jimmy Cleveland, French horn player Julius Watkins, baritone saxophonist Sahib Shihab, and tuba player Don Butterfield. The expanded ensemble turn in fleetly swinging renditions of Horace Silver's "Speculation" and Gryce's "Nica's Tempo," while varying the mood a bit with a ballad reading of Benny Golson's "I Remember Clifford" and a Far East-tinged waltz take on Randy Weston's "Little Niles" (shades of Miles Davis' Birth of the Cool group are heard in the complex, yet featherweight arrangements by Gryce). The quintet tracks include Gryce's "Sans Souci" and a provocative version of "Over the Rainbow." With some of the best arrangements heard in jazz and excellent solos by Gryce, Byrd, and Flanagan, Jazz Lab makes for an excellent introduction to the hard bop catalog.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-lab-mw0000889906

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Reseña de Stephen Cook
El innovador, pero desafortunadamente efímero Quinteto de Jazz Lab del saxofonista alto/arreglista Gigi Gryce y el trompetista Donald Byrd grabaron varios lados durante 1957, siete de los cuales fueron lanzados en este excelente álbum de Columbia (un puñado de otros títulos se hicieron colectivamente para Riverside, Verve y RCA). La banda central de Gryce, Byrd, el pianista Tommy Flanagan (un puesto también ocupado por Wade Legge y Hank Jones), el bajista Wendell Marshall y el baterista Art Taylor se complementan en cuatro cortes aquí con los trombonistas Benny Powell y Jimmy Cleveland, el trompetista Julius Watkins, el saxofonista barítono Sahib Shihab y el tuba Don Butterfield. El conjunto expandido gira en interpretaciones fugazmente oscilantes de "Speculation" de Horace Silver y "Nica's Tempo" de Gryce, mientras varía un poco el estado de ánimo con una lectura de balada de "I Remember Clifford" de Benny Golson y una versión de vals con tintes del Lejano Oriente de "Little Niles" de Randy Weston (los matices del Nacimiento del grupo Genial de Miles Davis se escuchan en los arreglos complejos, pero de peso pluma de Gryce). Las pistas del quinteto incluyen "Sans Souci" de Gryce y una versión provocativa de " Over the Rainbow."Con algunos de los mejores arreglos que se escuchan en el jazz y excelentes solos de Gryce, Byrd y Flanagan, Jazz Lab es una excelente introducción al catálogo de hard bop.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-lab-mw0000889906

Tracklist:
A1 - Speculation
A2 - Over The Rainbow
A3 - Nica's Tempo
A4 - Blue Concept
B1 - Little Niles
B2 - Sans Souci
B3 - I Remember Clifford

Credits:
    Alto Saxophone – Gigi Gryce
    Baritone Saxophone – Sahib Shibab (tracks: A1, A3, B1, B3)
    Bass – Wendell Marshall
    Drums – Art Taylor
    Horn – Julius Watkins (tracks: A1, A3, B1, B3)
    Piano – Tommy Flanagan (tracks: A1 to A3, B2), Wade Legge (tracks: A4, B1, B3)
    Trombone – Benny Powell (tracks: A1, A3), Jimmy Cleveland (tracks: B1, B3)
    Trumpet – Don Byrd
    Tuba – Don Butterfield (tracks: A1, A3, B1, B3)

1957