GENE AMMONS – 1949-1950 | The Chronogical Classics – 1329 (2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This leg of the Gene Ammons chronology begins with two pretty vocals by Christine Chapman. Jug is in the background, offering emotional support through the tenor sax. These tidbits are soon forgotten as several powerful blowing sessions unfold. The lush, theatrical renditions of "Ev'rything Depends on You" and "When You're Gone" are thrilling examples of where the jazz ballad was at in 1949. The elegant boppish swing of "Hot Springs" is liberating. "Little Slam" eventually reveals itself as a reconstituted "King Porter Stomp." The next session is even better: "Pennies From Heaven" is all delicacy and beatitude. "The Last Mile," also known as "Rockin' Rocker," does an impressive slow grind on simple blues changes. "Cha-Bootie" is definitive swaggering Gene Ammons, full of soul. During "Full Moon" the band bursts all restraints and lunges forward with horns blazing. On March 5th 1960, Ammons started laying down thunder tracks for the Prestige label. "Bye Bye" sounds like "Soft Winds" with salt and Tabasco. Ammons leads a hand-clapping moralistic singalong called "Let It Be." That's Sonny Stitt blowing down a baritone sax. He comes round front, switches to tenor and duels with Ammons on "Blues Up and Down," a showpiece that would be revived by Johnny Griffin and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis during the early 1960s. How cool it is to hear the original version of this two-sax workout, followed by a brisk "You Can Depend On Me"? Great rhythm section in Duke Jordan, Tommy Potter and "Kansas City" Jo Jones. Teddy Williams must have opened his mouth abnormally wide when he sang with this band. It's kind of outrageous, like he's doing Billy Eckstine impressions. On "Dumb Woman Blues" his chortling makes a bit more sense but he's still really loud and overbearing. For this kind of singing, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson would be preferable. The Prestige rendering of "Chabootie" is a marvel of precision. Stitt was a capable baritone player, and Art Blakey has appeared as a worthy successor for Jones. "Who Put the Sleeping Pills in Rip Van Winkle's Coffee?" is surprisingly stupid, and no amount of hot blowing can rescue the song from itself after Gene leads the band in a stilted singalong. The melody is a turkey, which explains why this track rarely appears on reissues. "Gravy" is immediately recognizable as "Walkin'," that great durable anthem of hard bop. Once again, Stitt's baritone is a bitch. "Easy Glide" sparkles with a vintage early-'50s show time arrangement, very theatrical. The disc closes out with four sides issued on the Chess label. While "Tenor Eleven" is pleasantly stimulating, Jug really finds himself in the ballad groove with the help of primitive reverb and maybe something else to steady the nerves and enhance his mood. Three ballads and you're out. arwulf arwulf       Tracklist + Credits :