Cool Struttin' Reviews

From the very first 4 notes you know this is album is cool. Cool Struttin' is one of my favourite hard bop tracks from the 50's. It plays at a good pace and one can just picture a hot chick walking down the streets of New York with a smoke in hand. Of course her skirt is still below the knees but she is one classy lady. This is one of those great party albums I could see being played when it came out too. Not the drug group but more the group that talked buisness or plotted ganster jive with other fellow hard kats. I love Paul Chambers on this because he doesn't just play the bass but he bows it too, like on the title track near the end. I love that.

Blue Minor seems to have a cuban/ latin feel to it at times, which was starting to become popular at the time so it's no surprise really. This is also a great track and it picks up the pace a bit from the last one too.

Sippin' at Bells is another fast track and I think it's my 2nd favourite on here, next to the title track. It has blazing solos and a good drum solo to open the track too. The trumpet by Art Farmer is so warm sounding on this track.

Deep Night slows the pace down to a more cooler jazz sound. The lights are low and the room is filled with light chatter and tinking glasses. I think this track Sonny Clark is best. Overall this album is a hardbop classic one of the best from the late 50's.

Credits:
Bass - Paul Chambers
Drums - Philly Joe Jones
Piano - Sonny Clark
Saxophone [Alto] - Jackie McLean
Trumpet - Art Farmer