Trio & Sextet

Al Haig (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 9, 2000)
• Original Release Date: June 6, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ojc
• ASIN: B00004SUFD
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #336,076 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Just One of Those Things

2. Yardbird Suite

3. Taboo

4. Mighty Like a Rose

5. S'Wonderful

6. Just You, Just Me

7. The Moon Was Yellow

8. 'Round Midnight

9. Sugar Hil

10. Five Star

11. It's the Talk of the Town

12. In a Pinch

13. Skull Buster

14. Ante Room

15. Poop Deck

16. Pennies from Heaven

Editorial Reviews

From Jazziz

Al Haig, a top-shelf bop pianist who played on some of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie's groundbreaking recordings, also exhibited a bit of Powell's influence after 1950. For his part, Powell cited Haig as his favorite on the instrument and referred to him as "a perfect pianist." On Trio and Sextets, Haig is heard in 1949 with groups that included tenor greats Stan Getz and Wardell Gray and, five years later, in a trio that included bassist Bill Crow and drummer Lee Abrams.

It's easy to understand why Powell held Haig in such high regard; Al was a consummate artist, sensitive, melodically inventive, and a great accompanist. He was also a great technician, a fact somewhat obscured by the apparent ease of his playing. He used the upper octaves more than most bop pianists and played very smoothly, anticipating Hank Jones and Tommy Flanagan.

Not only does Haig play with uncommon authority on Trio and Sextets, but there's also topnotch playing by Getz and Gray, who display their interpretations of Lester Young's style, and by Jimmy Raney, the guitar equivalent of Haig.

--- Harvey Pekar, JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great intro to the forgotten bebop piano master, December 24, 2003

By 

rash67 (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Trio & Sextet (Audio CD)

A fine collection of Al Haig, bebop's greatest painist, from the late '40's and mid 50's, (just before he vanished). Bud Powell called him the "perfect pianist". Half of the CD is Haig with a trio and half behind the more extroverted Stan Getz and Wardell Gray.

Great tunes great melodies, Haig speeds ahead of Getz hyperfast bebop, but also sounds warmly lyrical when Stan (and Wardell) slow things down. Haig is an amazing technician who made the most difficult playing seem effortless. The Getz performances are duplicated under Getz name on many CD's.

The CD kicks off with a amazing version of Cole Porter's "Just One of Those Things" in trio which showcases his astonding technique in hyperdrive. The best selection is perhaps the soulful rendition of "'Round Midnight".

As wonderful as Al Haig's playing is on this album is, after you have this one, be sure to seek out harder to find "Esoteric" and "Invitation" for even more spectacular performances.