Personnel:
A.K. Salim (arr, cond), Joe Wilder, Johnny Coles, Kenny Dorham (tp), Nat Adderley (cnt), Frank Rehak, Buster Cooper (tb), Phil Woods, Frank Wess, Herbie Mann, Johnny Griffin, Seldon Powell, Pepper Adams, Howard Austin, Charlie Fowlkes, Sahib Shihab (reeds), Wynton Kelly, Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan, Eddie Costa (p), Kenny Burrell (g), Wendell Marshall, George Duvivier, Paul Chambers (b), Max Roach, Osie Johnson, Philly Joe Jones (d), Chino Pozo (perc)
Reference: FSRCD 474
Bar code: 8427328604741
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A.K. Salim (Ahmad Khatab Atkinson) was an ex-reed man who retired from playing in 1943 to arrange and compose for several jazz and Afro- Cuban bands. This 2-CD set draws together all the recordings he did as a leader for Savoy Records in 1957-1958. Most of his work here reflects Salims deep knowledge of blues and his arrangers talent for setting down relatively simple lines combining down home traditionalism with harmonic sophistication. His unpretentious arrangements have an unmistakably visceral quality and offer a fine framework for the eloquently powerful soloists of both reed and brass sections. Some of the greatest modern jazz pianists, bassists and drummers round out the rhythm, along with guitar in a few tracks, in both support and solo capacities, while the presence of a conga blends well with the Latino-flavored charts in what is, overall, a satisfying and thoroughly swinging collection.
