Customer Reviews

At Basin Street

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Everyone who has real interest in jazz should have this album. This is the Brown-Roach Quintet with Sonny Rollins. If you have any interest in Clifford Brown but haven't heard him, this is the album that you need. Trumpet player Clifford Brown is, of course, brilliant--fast and lyrical--an improvisational giant on standards and originals. Brownie is pure, clean, elegant. And tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins complements him well. The versions of "What is this Thing Called Love" and "I'll Remember April" are particularly moving. The first begins begins with Brown and Rollins bobbing chaotically in Roach's insistent river of drums and evolves into brilliant solos by Brown, Rollins and Powell. The trades at the end of this song are simply brilliant. Throughout this album, Richie Powell's piano is an added bonus, and the album features three originals ("Powell's Prances," "Time", and "Gertrude's Bounce"). Never as recognized as his brother Bud, Powell is a truly lyrical pianist and a fluent improvisor. Bassist George Morrow provides a solid foundation and solos. Max Roach is, of course, the legendary drummer--controlled and tasteful where needed, explosive on demand. There are some fine drum solos on this live album, but they don't overshadow Brownie or Sonny Rollins. This is one of the finer bebop albums made.

The stars of this session from 1956 are Max Roach's drum work and the fleet trumpet of Clifford Brown. Brownie solos with a dexterity, technique, and imagination that rivals the great Charlie Parker. Roach matches Brown's technical and creative skill and adds a rumbling thunder in the form of his punchy accompaniment and distinctive sticcatto snare to tom rolls. Every solo these two men take is an event, never failing to amaze. Rounding out the quintet is a young Sonny Rollins on tenor, Richie Powell on piano, and George Morrow on bass. Rollins displays his burgeoning talent with a fine solo and exchanging with Brown on "I'll Remember April". Powell shows off his skills as an arranger by penning the arrangements for most of the tracks, as well as taking fantastic solos. His effort on "Powell's Prances" stands out. As, "At Basin Street" was the second to last album to be recorded by this quintet before Brownie, his wife, and Richie Powell were killed in a car accident, (the last is Rollins' "Sonny Rollins +4"), the music, complete with the obligatory alternates, becomes that much more precious. This is one of those albums that falls into the catagory of "obscure classics", and is worth hunting for.

It's been quite a while since I've listened to this album, but the ensemble choruses and solos still ring in my ears--"Love Is a Splendored Thing" (hardly a jazz vehicle but it works), "I Remember April" (perhaps rivaled only by Erroll Garner's on "Concert by the Sea"), "Gertrude's Bounce" (one of their most inspired bebop tunes--part jingle bells, part operatic melodic expansiveness). Everybody's favorite trumpet player demonstrates why he deserves to be, and Rollins brings a new kind of power, energy, and playfulness to the group.

Many listeners don't realize that this was Rollins' only album with Clifford and Max. The rest of the time it was the redoubtable Harold Land, as precise and melodic player as there was, one of the all-time greats despite his relative obscurity. He was a diminutive person with an edge but not a lot of power in his sounds. No doubt the swaggering, muscular Sonny provided much more firepower for the group's live performances and loosened up things in the recording studio with his sportive, motivic playing. But Harold Land's precision playing and unfailing melodic logic made for a tighter ensemble sound and more consistent solos--which is the reason I'd give the edge to "Study in Brown." On the other hand, "More Study in Brown" includes another take of "I Remember April" from this same session with Rollins," a version that strikes me as superior to the master take heard here.

Not only was this the end of the string for Clifford, but it's probably the last recording by Max Roach to have a major impact or enduring significance.

Incredible playing by Brown, Rollins and Roach... the tracks are mostly up-tempo but it keeps you listening. Definatly a 5 star record that shows the incredible originality and talent of these musicians in their prime. Humerous and just plain good improv, this is a must have for any bop lover.

The Amazon bozos once again didn't do their homework and listed this as a live recording, which it isn't.

I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT A LIVE RECORDING. It's a studio recording, and an excellent date at that...also, enter Sonny Rollins.

This is an excellent record, although I'd rate their first eponymous collaboration together as the better of the two.

I agree this is a great cd. But don't let the title fool you, this is not a live (concert) recording. But that makes it even beter-no crowd noise to spoil it!

This CD is the best Jazz CD I have ever heard. This recording combines the amazing technique and passion of one of the best jazz quintets of all time. This CD offers amazing solos and beautiful and powerful melodies. Through listening to this CD, one will be astounded at the powerful sound, amazing range, and the overall fabulous music that Clifford Brown produced. Also featured in this CD is a young but still magnificent Sonny Rollins, a late addition to the band. This CD is one of the quintet's last recordings before Clifford Brown and Richard Powell's tragic deaths. This CD is a must have for anybody who likes music... Buy this CD!

Numerous reviewers have already pointed out that this is not a live recording taped at the nightclub Basin Street so I will attempt to add to the commentary by quoting from an astute jazz writer, Peter Niklas Wilson, the author of Sonny Rollins: The Definitive Musical Guide, a book that I heartily recommend for all Sonny Rollins fans.

About this album Wilson writes: "The music has a completely different character from the Live at the Bee Hive recordings: instead of an unrestrained blowing session, we have a carefully prepared studio date with mainly short solos. Pianist Richie Powell's composing skills are especially featured. As a soloist, he always stood in the shadow of his brother Bud (whose 'Un Poco Loco' he quotes in his solo in 'I'll Remember April'), and in this formation he can hardly hold his own in improvisations alongside the the young giants Brown and Rollins. As a composer and arranger, however, he makes essential contributions to the quintet's tight ensemble sound. Three of the tracks included here ('Powell's Prances,' 'Time,' and 'Gertrude's Bounce') come from his pen, and he knows how to rejuvenate even overworked standards with original intros and arrangements. This applies especially to the movie theme 'Love Is A Many Splendored Thing'--which is normally fairly shallow --but which Powell transforms into a chamber-music-like showpiece with unusual meters (5/4 time),polyrhythmic layerings, and sudden rhythm changes."

Wilson concludes: "With the structural ideas of Powell, the virtuoso solos of Brown and Rollins, and the rhythical fire of Morrow and Roach, all the ingredients for high-quality hard bop are accounted for. Also, more clearly than on the sonically inferior Live at the Bee Hive recordings, the captivating contrast between Brown's elegant, round tone and Rollins' bristly tenor sound comes to the fore."

Highly recommended for all fans of the great trumpeter Clifford Brown and legendary drummer Max Roach, and also for fans of tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins, as well as anyone with a taste for 1950s hard bop.

Clifford Brown and Sonny Rollins are like advanced versions of Dizzy and Parker. They flow together wonderfully. Too bad Clifford died as he was proving himself the greatest. Sonny Rollins best recordings came later probably because of the influence and push that Clifford Brown gave him. This is highly recommended!

it's one thing to have a Musician on his way to becoming a All Time Great&it's another to team Up a Great Talent with a Fellow Great Talent&have there Souls Blend as one&leave such a strong mark&endless possiblitys of what could have been. nowadays artists Colab all the time with mixed results. but back in the day you put the best with the best and you got results such as this. the arrangements are top notch as well. Clifford Brown was the truth on Trumpet. he died so young but left a lasting impression. He was that Cat that Miles&Dizzy had to keep a extra pair of eyes&ears on. Max Roach has incredible timing on the Drums. His Rhythm&Timing are top notch. He has Groove in there&has nice solos on here. on Flossie Lou" at the 3:15 Mark Roach has some nice rolls going on. Sonny Rollins plays on here on the Sax. he has always had his own sound on the Sax. Richie Powell left his mark on the Piano Here. George Morrow on the Bass. i enjoy the Cole Porter Cover of "what is this thing called Love? &also Love is a many splended thing. this is the kind of album that pairs together Musicians that truly compliment one another really well. sadly we didn't get more,but this is some Great talent that is timeless.