Customer Reviews

Snooky & Marshal's Album

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

 

 

.....could be the sub-title for this cd. It is literally an all star cast with an emphasis on Basie alumni (Young, Royal, Bellson and Green). The recently departed "All Universe" bassist Ray Brown with Ross Tompkins at the piano fill out this group. Curiously, both Snooky and Marshal have only 3 albums apiece under their own names for their entire careers. Both were known as team players and were essential lead men.

This is a laid back, mellow mainstream session that is pure listening pleasure.There is a bonus, a vocal by Scat Man Crothers, that has a New Orleans flavor to it ("Mean Dog Blues") similar to "Basin Street Blues" Dig the presence of Freddie Green's rhythm guitar on this one.

Snooky is the master of the mute and is always irresistably swinging. Marshal's alto ranks right with Johnny Hodges, Benny Carter and Willie Smith. For pure beauty, listen to him leading off the medley with "You've Changed", followed by Ross Tompkins fine interpretation of "Confessin" and the medley closer "Come Sunday" showcasing Snooky. Note the nice supportive work on the drums by Louie on this medley and throughout the entire session as well.

The music of this cd should be treasured as we may not hear the likes of it again with the passing of the Masters.

Marshal and Snooky were surely heaven sent to play together. As a testimony to Marshal's perfection, he was still making notes on his sheet music just prior to his death a couple of years ago. And Snooky has never sounded better. Between them, they had close to a hundred years of experience at the time of pressing this record. Personally, I have had the pleasure of both artists playing at my home on several occasions, and their legacy is more than the music.

When we listen to this masterpiece we experience the perfection that comes after decades of playing together and answering each others questions before being asked. You will delight in Snooky and Marshal and realize what a wonderful treasure their music has always been.

A thoroughly delightful CD. Marshal Royal's highly individual improvisations are marvelously engaging, and the other players are on the same high level. Most of the selections are of slow to moderate tempo and have a relaxed and laid-back quality. The "Limehouse Blues" and "Cherry" cuts especially are unsurpassed. Highly recommended!

A friend had copied this from LP to cassette tape for me many many years ago. He lost his LP copy in an apartment fire. I had been looking for this for many years on LP and then CD. The sound is very good. What a line up of some of great jazz musicians. The collective experience is hard to comprehend other than listening to their music. Mean Dog Blues with Scat Man Crothers is worth it alone. Snooky Young and the late Marshall Royal knew how to bring it down. The rhythm section of Ray Brown, Louie Bellson, Freddie Green and Ross Tompkins never missed and allowed Snooky and Marshall to do their thing. Soulful and with a good swing. This is what Jazz professionals sound like.

Thankfully I found it as the cassette was worn out.

.....could be the sub-title for this cd. It is literally an all star cast with an emphasis on Basie alumni (Young, Royal, Bellson and Green). The recently departed "All Universe" bassist Ray Brown with Ross Tompkins at the piano fill out this group. Curiously, both Snooky and Marshal have only 3 albums apiece under their own names for their entire careers. Both were known as team players and were essential lead men.

This is a laid back, mellow mainstream session that is pure listening pleasure.There is a bonus, a vocal by Scat Man Crothers, that has a New Orleans flavor to it ("Mean Dog Blues") similar to "Basin Street Blues" Dig the presence of Freddie Green's rhythm guitar on this one.

Snooky is the master of the mute and is always irresistably swinging. Marshal's alto ranks right with Johnny Hodges, Benny Carter and Willie Smith. For pure beauty, listen to him leading off the medley with "You've Changed", followed by Ross Tompkins fine interpretation of "Confessin" and the medley closer "Come Sunday" showcasing Snooky. Note the nice supportive work on the drums by Louie on this medley and throughout the entire session as well.

The music of this cd should be treasured as we may not hear the likes of it again with the passing of the Masters.

Review by Rober J Ament

Mellow, wise, unpretentious, all with a mature sense of humor. Snooky Young and Marshall Royal apparently had done and seen it all by the time they recorded this. And they had learned how to put music, human interaction and maybe life itself in appropriate perspective.
The next time stress gets the upper hand, spin their "Limehouse Blues" cut. It's one of the mellowest, most laidback renditions I have ever heard, and within thirty seconds you will have 'got the message': Life is to be appreciated, not "sweated".
And listen for the beautiful behind-the-beat light touch of the relatively unknown Ross Tompkins on piano.