egroj world: Gigi Gryce • The Rat Race Blues

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Gigi Gryce • The Rat Race Blues

Review
by Scott Yanow
Altoist Gigi Gryce's next to last album before permanently dropping out of jazz has been reissued on this CD. With trumpeter Richard Williams, pianist Richard Wyands, bassist Julian Euell, and drummer Mickey Roker also part of what was a working quintet, Gryce (underrated as a soloist and a particularly strong composer) had one of his finest bands. The group swings its way through two of Gryce's lesser-known originals and three then-recent obscurities. Interesting and generally fresh straight-ahead jazz.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-rat-race-blues-mw0000263253

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Reseña
por Scott Yanow
El penúltimo álbum de la contralto Gigi Gryce antes de abandonar definitivamente el jazz ha sido reeditado en este CD. Con el trompetista Richard Williams, el pianista Richard Wyands, el bajista Julian Euell, y el baterista Mickey Roker también parte de lo que era un quinteto de trabajo, Gryce (infravalorado como solista y un compositor particularmente fuerte) tenía una de sus mejores bandas. El grupo se abre camino a través de dos de los originales menos conocidos de Gryce y tres oscuridades entonces recientes. Jazz directo, interesante y fresco en general.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-rat-race-blues-mw0000263253

Tracks:
1 - The Rat Race Blues
Written-By – Gigi Gryce
2 - Strange Feelin'
Written-By – Sam Finch
3 - Boxer's Blues
Written-By – Gigi Gryce
4 - Blues In Bloom
Written-By – Norman Mapp
5 - Monday Through Sunday
Written-By – Norman Mapp

Credits:
    Alto Saxophone – Gigi Gryce
    Bass – Julian Euell
    Design, Photography By [Photo] – Don Schlitten
    Drums – Granville ''Mickey'' Roker*
    Liner Notes – Joe Goldberg
    Piano – Richard Wyands
    Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
    Remastered By [Digital Remastering, 1991] – Phil De Lancie
    Supervised By [Supervision] – Esmond Edwards
    Trumpet – Richard Williams

Recorded in Englewood Cliffs, NJ; June 7, 1960.
Recorded At – Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Label:    Prestige – NJ 8262, New Jazz – NJ 8262
Format:
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Country:    US
Released:    1960
Genre:    Jazz, Blues
Style:    Hard Bop, Modal
https://www.discogs.com/release/6574319-Gigi-Gryce-Featuring-Richard-Williams-The-Rat-Race-Blues