Customer Reviews

Gettin It Together

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

 

 

Per request of previous reviews, here is the rhythm section:

Walter Bishop Jr. (p)
Buddy Catlett (b)
Stu Martin (d)

Originally issued on Warwick. This recording session was also previously released on Fresh Sound under the CD name "Boss of the soul-stream trombone" item #F SRCD209

Collectibles is collectibles, no rhythm section listed does not surprise me at all.

Despite its cheesey art work and totally uninformative program notes, this is a very good CD if good, solid mainstream is your thing. If it is true, as another reviewer has suggested, that this was originally a Teddy Charles production for Warwick, then that would explain it. Teddy was the budget-conscious jazz fan's best friend. The Fuller originals are meaty and intelligible, and the arrangement of "But Beautiful" is strikingly lovely. Fuller is the principal soloist, although Lateef is heard here at his most lyrical: dig his flute work on "Flutie". Hubbard is fine, though perhaps uncharacteristically subdued. Aside from "But Beautiful", I was particularly taken with the opener, "Chantized", and "The Court", both Fuller originals. One oddity: the Cole Porter song listed here as "Do I Love You" is actually "'Deed I Do". But what can you expect from liner notes that don't even tell you who is in the rhythm section?

I agree, in general, with the first reviewer [below], except that, for me, "The Court" and "Do I love You" are the musical high points.
Surely "Gettin' It Together" is something of a misnomer for this mature blowing session.
In the LP era, I used to own a couple of $0.49 or $0.99 anthologies that contained "The Court," "Mr. L." and "Chantized", all Fuller originals.
[One of those LP's had a fine Pepper Adams/Donald Byrd item, too; and the other, by way of delightful contrast, may have had Teddy Wilson's "Sidney's Soliloquy" & an Urbie Green version of the "Mr Lucky" theme on it.]
How I loved those "five-and-dime" miscellany albums!
Anyway, I'm glad at last to be able to hear the entire session.
I urge potential listeners to overlook Scott Yanow's facile dismissal [elsewhere] of this music as an "otherwise unremarkable set".
It's what Dan Morgenstern might call an example of "friendly music" from that period.
And very high quality, to boot.
Data for the original Warwick LP, which was produced by vibist Teddy Charles, indicate that Walter Bishop Jr. (piano), Buddy Catlett (bass) and Stu Martin (drums) were the rhythm section -- which sounds about right.

This has got to be one of the most underrated jazz albums of all time.
If your feet and legs don't start moving when this band starts swinging,
you don't have the sound on. Definitely a keeper.

Every tune is excellent, but two songs are the definitive versions, as far
as I am concerned, If I Were A Bell and But Beautiful.
But Beautiful is sometimes played as a dull and boring ballad,
but as played by Curtis Fuller's trombone, it's just "beautiful".
His solos on these tunes are as satisfying as can be, as he
takes the lead on this album, regardless or the marquee order.

Freddie Hubbard does less modern trumpet playing (such as he did with Herbie Hancock)
and less smooth fusion (as he did in some solo albums) and more keep-it-movin'
straight-ahead swinging jazz. Actually, the same could be also said for Curtis Fuller.
He plays more in the hard-bop vein many Art Blakey.

But Yusef Lateef, as under-rated a tenorman as you'll find on an under-rated
album, takes some super solos on tenor sax and flute (on Chantized).

However, the album doesn't list the piano or bass players. This remains a mystery.
The album would not be as good were it not for the super job they do.
Rather than list the possible names I've heard mentioned around the internet
and start rumors, can anyone confirm the state for sure who they are?