Jazz for a Lazy Day [32 Jazz]

Read About This Recording

Jazz can fit all moods, from happiness to wistful sadness, from pure excitement to serving as romantic background music. This fact was noted in the late 1950s when Prestige formed its Moodsville subsidiary, which exclusively recorded collections of ballads.

In the late 1990s, the 32 Jazz label, under the direction of producer Joel Dorn, started a similar and very popular series. Since 32 owned music originally recorded for the Muse and Landmark labels in the 1970s, '80s and '90s, they issued various artist collections that fit a certain mood. The concept caught on and their releases sold very well.

Jazz for a Lazy Day puts the emphasis on ballads and the type of performances that work particularly well when played quietly in the background, with performances by Houston Person and Ron Carter, Houston Person on his own date, Donald Byrd, Wallace Roney and Hank Jones. There are also selections from saxophonists Ralph Moore, Ricky Ford and Sonny Stitt and trumpeter Russell Gunn that fit perfectly into the ballad mood while featuring subtle improvising.

—Scott Yanow

Contents

Hank Jones: Blue Monk; Ralph Moore: Monk's Dream; Ricky Ford: Chelsea Bridge; Sonny Stitt: Walkin'; Wallace Roney: Alone Together; Houston Person/Ron Carter: Blue Seven; Russell Gunn: Fly Me to the Moon; Houston Person: Daydream; Donald Byrd: Alter Ego.