OLP Album #38: Illinois Jacquet & His Orchestra

Read About This Recording

Illinois Jacquet was one of the giants of the tenor-sax. He was one of the first to combine together the influences of the reigning giants of the 1940s, Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. During his classic solo on Lionel Hampton's 1942 recording of Flying Home, Jacquet's use of repetition and honks ushered in rhythm & blues. Many saxophonists of the late 1940s/early '50s based their entire style on Jacquet, and Flying Home was the basis for a countless number of recordings.

After stints with the big bands of Hampton, Cab Calloway and Count Basie, Illinois Jacquet had a long solo career, remaining very popular for decades. Jacquet was more than a honker although he always had a big tone. He could be riotous on up-tempo material but was quite warm on ballads where he enjoyed caressing the melody.

This CD is a duplicate of an obscure but worthy 1955 album. Jacquet is teamed with trumpeter Harry Sweets Edison, pianist Carl Perkins, Gerald Wiggins (normally a pianist) on organ, guitarist Irving Ashby, bassist Curtis Counce and drummer Art Bartee. The combination of Perkins' piano with Wiggins' organ (which preceded Jimmy Smith) is a bit unusual but the repertoire is consistently pleasing and swinging. Highlights include Stardust, East of yhe Sun and Honeysuckle Rose although Jacquet is in top form throughout the date.

This set is well worth exploring and enjoying.

-Scott Yanow

Contents

Imported from Europe!

Remastered!

Honeysuckle Rose; Cool Bill; Learnin' the Blues; Stardust; Love is Here to Stay; Empathy; East of the Sun (And West of the Moon); Sophia.

Illinois Jacquet, Tenor Sax; Harry Edison, Trumpet; Carl Perkins, Piano; Gerald Wiggins, Organ; Irving Ashby, Guitar; Curtis Counce, Upright Bass; Art Bartee, Drums; Illinois Jacquet Orchestra.