Cool Struttin’ cover

Cool Struttin’

Released

This 1958 album is an undeniable classic of the hard bop era. Pianist Sonny Clark is joined by trumpeter Art Farmer, alto saxophonist Jackie McLean, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones. The title track is a seductive blues groove, “Blue Minor” a jumpy soul jazz workout with a slight Latin tinge to its main melody. The album’s second side features a furious version of Miles Davis’s early bebop piece, “Sippin’ At Bells,” on which Chambers takes one of his trademark bowed solos, and ends with the old standard “Deep Night.” There are no ballads here, but Jones keeps the beat laid-back even at the jumpiest moments, and the horns fly below the radar, favoring melody over pyrotechnics.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
Plectrist cover

Plectrist

Billy Bauer
Milestones cover

Milestones

Miles Davis
Night Train cover

Night Train

Oscar Peterson
Speak No Evil cover

Speak No Evil

Wayne Shorter
Ninety Miles cover

Ninety Miles

David Sanchez, Harold Lopez Nussa, Christian Scott, Stefon Harris
The News cover

The News

Andrew Cyrille Quartet
Michael Brecker cover

Michael Brecker

Michael Brecker
James Farm cover

James Farm

James Farm
Epistrophy cover

Epistrophy

Bill Frisell, Thomas Morgan
Good Days cover

Good Days

Chicago Underground Quartet
Dippin’ cover

Dippin’

Hank Mobley