Ellis Larkins • A Smooth One

 

Review by Scott Yanow
Famed as a subtle accompanist who played harmonically complex chords in a lightly swinging style, pianist Ellis Larkins did not have any opportunities to record a full album as a leader after 1959 until this effort for the French Black & Blue label; it was last available domestically as a Classic Jazz LP. With fine support from bassist George Duvivier and drummer J.C. Heard, Larkins performs five swing-era standards, plus his own "C.E.B." The increasingly rare session gives listeners a good example of Ellis Larkins' tasteful playing. 
https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-smooth-one-mw0000690076


Biography by Scott Yanow
Famous for his subtle chord voicings and ability to accompany singers, Ellis Larkins has been in great demand throughout his long career. His parents were musicians (his mother played piano while his father was a violinist) and Larkins was hailed as a prodigy early on, appearing with an orchestra when he was 11. After graduating from the Peabody Conservatory and Juilliard, Larkins was part of Edmond Hall's group in the mid-'40s; recorded with Mildred Bailey, Coleman Hawkins, and Dicky Wells; and then worked regularly at the Village Vanguard and the Blue Angel in New York over a 20-year period. His duet records with Ella Fitzgerald and Ruby Braff in the 1950s are masterpieces in subtlety, and he was also a busy studio player. During the 1960s, Larkins worked with singers Joe Williams, Jane Harvey, Georgia Gibbs, and even Eartha Kitt and Harry Belafonte; since then, Larkins has continued playing in New York clubs with a wide variety of singers. He recorded as a leader for Storyville and Decca in the 1950s, for Halcyon and Black & Blue in the 1970s, had additional duets with Braff for Chiaroscuro, and was featured on a couple of dates for Concord, including a 1992 recital at Maybeck Recital Hall. 
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ellis-larkins-mn0000172626#biography

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Reseña de Scott Yanow
Conocido por ser un acompañante sutil que tocaba acordes armónicamente complejos con un estilo ligeramente swing, el pianista Ellis Larkins no tuvo ninguna oportunidad de grabar un álbum completo como líder después de 1959 hasta este trabajo para el sello francés Black & Blue; la última vez que estuvo disponible en el mercado nacional fue como LP de Classic Jazz. Con el excelente apoyo del bajista George Duvivier y el baterista J.C. Heard, Larkins interpreta cinco estándares de la era del swing, además de su propio tema «C.E.B.». Esta sesión, cada vez más difícil de encontrar, ofrece a los oyentes un buen ejemplo del elegante estilo de Ellis Larkins. 
https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-smooth-one-mw0000690076


Biografía de Scott Yanow
Famoso por sus sutiles acordes y su habilidad para acompañar a cantantes, Ellis Larkins ha sido muy solicitado a lo largo de su dilatada carrera. Sus padres eran músicos (su madre tocaba el piano y su padre era violinista) y Larkins fue aclamado como un prodigio desde muy temprana edad, actuando con una orquesta cuando tenía 11 años. Tras graduarse en el Conservatorio Peabody y en Juilliard, Larkins formó parte del grupo de Edmond Hall a mediados de los años 40; grabó con Mildred Bailey, Coleman Hawkins y Dicky Wells; y luego trabajó regularmente en el Village Vanguard y el Blue Angel de Nueva York durante un periodo de 20 años. Sus discos a dúo con Ella Fitzgerald y Ruby Braff en la década de 1950 son obras maestras de sutileza, y también fue un músico de estudio muy solicitado. Durante la década de 1960, Larkins trabajó con los cantantes Joe Williams, Jane Harvey, Georgia Gibbs e incluso Eartha Kitt y Harry Belafonte; desde entonces, Larkins ha seguido tocando en clubes de Nueva York con una gran variedad de cantantes. Grabó como líder para Storyville y Decca en la década de 1950, para Halcyon y Black & Blue en la década de 1970, realizó dúos adicionales con Braff para Chiaroscuro y participó en un par de citas para Concord, incluido un recital en 1992 en el Maybeck Recital Hall. 
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ellis-larkins-mn0000172626#biography

Tracks:
1 - Rose Room - 9:06
2 - Saint Louis Blues - 7:29
3 - Blues In My Heart - 4:16
4 - A Smooth One - 7:23
5 - C.E.B. - 3:43
6 - Between The Devil And The Deep Blues Sea - 7:43
7 - I Want A Litle Girl - 6:11
8 - Day Dream - 5:11


Credits:
    Bass – George Duvivier
    Drums – J.C. Heard
    Piano – Ellis Larkins

Recorded on July 21, 1977 at Barclay Studio, Paris, France

Label:    Black and Blue – 33.123
Country:    France
Released:    1977
Genre:    Jazz, Blues
Style:    Bop
https://www.discogs.com/release/5406047-Ellis-Larkins-A-Smooth-One

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