Customer Reviews

Modern Art

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Originally released by United Artists, and reissued on CD by Blue Note/Capitol, "Modern Art" is one of the classic Art Farmer albums. It also is an early look at the Jazztet, as future partner Benny Golson joins him on this recording. But it is Bill Evans who often steals the show. With his precise and concise piano solos it's too bad he didn't end up holding down the bench for the Jazztet. While the album boasts one original composition each from Farmer and Golson, it's the standards that shine here, particularly "Darn That Dream" and "The Touch of Your Lips." This is an essential purchase.

This is top-of-the-line Art Farmer, one of his best albums ever. Recorded in 1958 for United Artists, everything clicks to perfection: the tune selection is an excellent mix of exciting originals and standards, the tempos are varied, and the playing by the quintet is brilliant. Everyone seems juiced to play. Particularly impressive is tenor man Benny Golson whose Coltrane hat is very much in evidence; the notes come pouring out of his horn on many of the tunes - especially noteworthy on THE TOUCH OF YOUR LIPS. He can be both powerful and pretty. Junior Mance's JUBILATION is churchy for sure, but not fire and brimstone: it's very mellow instead. Pianist Bill Evans plays well throughout, taking perhaps his best and most introspective solo on I LOVE YOU. Farmer is a delight, whether playing beautifully muted (LIKE SOMEONE IN LOVE) or tempestuously afire (COLD BREEZE). This album will delight listeners no matter how many times it's heard.

In early 1965 I was working as a disc jockey at San Francisco's legendary jazz radio station KJAZ FM. I got a call from a listener who identified himself as pianist Bill Evans. He called to request a song from "Modern Art" saying it was his favorite recording session. At first I doubted it was really Bill Evans but later I was able to confirm it was indeed him. Evans went on to make many more historic recordings, but in '65 "Modern Art" was at the top of his personal list!

Art Farmer Benny Golson and Bill Evans are just incredible together on this collection of originals and standards. Farmer and Golson went on to play together in the Jazztet but here the sound is a bit different primarily due to Evans remarkable piano playing. This is a truly fine CD and well worth checking out.

I once had a short conversation with the late pianist, Bill Evans and asked him what his favorite album was. To my surprise, he mentioned not any of his trio albums with Scott LaFaro, but a date he did with Art Farmer & Benny Golson--"Modern Art". Everything was mostly accomplished in one take, and he felt the session really swung. If you happened to buy or listen this album, you'll understand why Bill was so fond of this session. Tunes like "Darn that Dream" or "Like Someone in Love" really groove under Bill's accompaniement and also his solos. If you love the Jazztet or Bill Evans, you can't go wrong with example of "modern art"!!

I am writing a review of this excellent CD only to seek clarification. Note that the track listing has asterisked the second half of these tracks (seemingly with no explanation).

This is additional to the original review - the problem with downloading is that you have no info until you get to see a CD - which I have now done and the mystery is (almost) completely solved (and brings into question the ethics of cover art).

With Art Farmer are:

Tracks 1-8: Benny Golsen, Bill Evans, Addison Farmer & Dave Bailey.

Tracks 9-12: Bob Brookmeyer, Zoot Sims, Teddy Charles (vibes), Addison Farmer & Ed Thigpen - no pianist is listed! (see below)

Tracks 13-17: Jimmy Buffington (flugelhorn), Anthony Ortega (flute, clarinet & alto), John Hafer (bass clarinet), Ray Tricarico (Bassoon), Dick Wetmore (violin),
Ahmed Abud Malik (bass) "among others" - arranger Bob Zieff - again, no pianist listed!

I hope this is useful.

Addendum - tracks 9-12 are from a Teddy Charles Sextet salute to Lionel Hampton which confirms the personnel listed above and also names the pianist as Hank Jones - it is possible that he is not listed on this CD because he does not feature on the four selected tracks.

Art Farmer has a unique tone on the flugelhorn. It is soft, dusky, and warm. No one else had a tone like that, although Clark Terry (another GREAT player) came close.

I bought the LP decades ago, and I was glad to see it available on CD. It's a great piece of jazz history.