Customer Reviews

Golden Days

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

 

 

king pleasure was the smoothest. he was a vocalist who's sound was part eddie jefferson, part jon hendrick's, and part nat king cole. swinging, hip and very laid back. on golden days, his backing band swings through a number of cool compositions, that all start off loud and quick and then slickly move to the background as pleasure starts singing. the track "moody's mood for love" is why i decided to track down some of king pleasures releases. it's a catchy tune. the song features a unaccredited female singer that switches choruses with pleasure. "parker's mood" is also included on this release, which features a smooth sax solo played by harold land, and which strangely reminds me of some of the modern swinging vocal bands in both sound and phrasing (i.e., the mighty blue kings).

Interesting, on point modern jazz vocal takes on popular songs and sax solos. The best diction this side of Ella. A definite buy for any modern jazz fan. The liner notes alone are worth the price of the CD.

King Pleasure took the art of the Jazz scat to another level and remains the standard for innovative Jazz musical singing genius. Here the listener will find out why.

In this finely balanced selection of tunes, King Pleasure "struts his stuff," and what a delicious treat for the astute listener. "Moody Mood" (or I'm in the mood for love), renamed for the incomparable James Moody (who I recently saw in Geneva, is still going strong and in excellent shape at 85, looking like he is not a day older than 50) is the reason to buy this album. But there is much more.

The King is always "Pure Pleasure" and always five stars.

The King, nee Clarence Beeks, came into a jazz joint in Cincinnati in the late 60s, and he sat in with the local group, and so did I (ts). What a treat. I try to emulate his spirit, not with vocalese, but straight ahead scatting. I'm too lazy to try vocalese, that is a truly focused art, and I just want to keep it loose. [...]

Long live his Royal Highness.

I've been a King Pleasure fan for years. Unfortunately the last time I saw him was in New York City. He was on the street, panhandling. One of the great scat singers.

i am trying to find a cd or tape where eddie jefferson did a tune call last time i saw jeanne. i believe parkers mood was on the same cut.i have always been a fan of eddie jefferson. can you help me find the cd or tape with "jeanne" on it ?

thank you
bill wilkins

He was a good student, taking after the Tradition of the great Father of Vocalese, Eddie Jefferson. He has not done the art an injustice.