Undercurrent [Original recording remastered]

Kenny Drew | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 6, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000MG2LQS
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  DVD Audio  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #162,549 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Undercurrent

2. Funk-Cosity

3. Lion's Den

4. The Pot's On

5. Groovin' the Blues

6. Ballade

Editorial Reviews

No description available.
Genre: Jazz Music
Rating:
Release Date: 0000-00-00
Media Type: Compact Disk

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Swept Away Once Again By "Undercurrent", February 6, 2007

By 

Michael B. Richman (Portland, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Undercurrent (Audio CD)

Kenny Drew's "Undercurrent" is one of those classic Blue Note albums that most people have never heard of. Originally released on CD domestically in 1987, it was deleted in the early 90s and has only been seen since briefly in a limited edition reprint program or as an expensive import. Thankfully with this RVG Series reissue an almost forgotten classic has returned. Pianist Kenny Drew made invaluable contributions to many Blue Note classics -- Blue Train and Dexter Calling... to name two -- in addition to this fine album as a leader. "Undercurrent" is a magnificent hard bop session from December 11, 1960 featuring the talents of Freddie Hubbard, Hank Mobley, Sam Jones and Louis Hayes. The six compositions, all by Drew, are terrific medium and up-tempo swingers, with the exception of the lovely concluding piece, "Ballade." "Undercurrent" is as good as anything Blue Note recorded in 1960, and should really be picked up now that it is available at a reasonable price.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another can't-miss session from a golden age., May 25, 2007

By 

Samuel Chell (Kenosha,, WI United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Undercurrent (Audio CD)

The only Blue Note recording under Kenny Drew's leadership and the last to be released under his name for a thirteen-year period, during which time the pianist would relocate to Europe, "Undercurrent" is a strong outing by the gifted pianist, composer and session leader. In the latter capacity, his job is made especially easy by a frontline of Hank Mobley and Freddie Hubbard, whose instant compatibility had been established just weeks earlier on Mobley's sterling "Roll Call" (Blue Note, 1960). Moreover, the rhythm team of bassist Sam Jones and drummer Louis Hayes had become one of the more efficient power plants in jazz as regular members of Cannonball Adderley's Quintet at the peak of its popularity.

"Undercurrent" has nothing as viscerally infectious as the Adderley's "Sack O' Woe" from the same year but is an admirable program of Drew originals, ranging from the modal, streaming title piece to the self-descriptive "Funk-Cosity" to "Lion's Den," a welcome change of mood and pace, to the beboppish "The Pot's On," an elliptical melody that yields to the reassuringly warm inventiveness at which Mobley has few if any peers.

If none of the tunes is strikingly original or memorable, the same might be said of Drew's otherwise superlative post-Powell piano work. Certainly among the highlights is the opening title tune. Drums and bass walk off eight bars at a flaming tempo, Drew adds a running baroque figure for the next eight, tenor and trumpet harmonize in thirds for the next sixteen then play in unison over a pedal tone for eight more, finally re- harmonizing in thirds for the last eight before Mobley's tenor is suddenly ejected into the jet stream for the first solo. The latter player is simply masterful on this and each of his solo turns, clearly at the very top of his game during the same year that produced his masterpiece, "Soul Station." Hubbard, the comparative newcomer, isn't as fluent as Mobley but complements his frontline companion with a more aggressive, even puckish, approach, alternating between repeated percussive motifs and a soaring, passionate lyricism.

Given the size of the ensemble, the quality of the musicians, and the blowing room for each of the soloists, it's perhaps small wonder that "Undercurrent" falls just short of a personal triumph for the leader (though arguably essential to any Mobley completist). But as a democratic and exemplary Blue Note session, with strong hands vigorously played by five proven winners, this latest RVG remaster deserves a place alongside more heralded recordings during a truly golden age in the music. (Fortunately, Blue Note or Amazon appears to be doing their part where the price is concerned.)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Swept Away By "Undercurrent", October 19, 2000

By 

Michael B. Richman (Portland, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Undercurrent (Audio CD)

Kenny Drew's "Undercurrent" is one of those classic Blue Note albums that most people have never heard of. Originally released on CD domestically in 1987, it was deleted in the early 90s had has rarely been seen since. This import version is all that remains of an almost forgotten classic. If you are intrigued by this title, I seriously suggest you fork over the big bucks to buy it now. Of course all things are possible, but I seriously doubt this will be released in the domestic RVG series. It just wouldn't sell enough copies because Drew isn't that recognizable. That's a shame because he has made irreplaceable contributions to many Blue Note classics -- "Blue Train" and "Dexter Calling" to name two -- in addition to this fine album as a leader. "Undercurrent" is a magnificent hard bop session from December 1960 featuring the talents of Freddie Hubbard, Hank Mobley, Sam Jones and Louis Hayes. The six compositions, all by Drew, are terrific medium and up-tempo swingers, with the exception of the lovely concluding piece, "Ballade." "Undercurrent" is as good as anything Blue Note recorded in 1960, and should really be picked up at any price.