€ 11.95 (USD 14.21)

Xanadu LP 105

Prestige 7628

Great Quartets (2 Lps On 1 Cd)

Sonny Criss

This release presents two complete quartet studio sessions by the unique Sonny Criss, accompanied in both cases by outstanding pianists: Barry Harris (with whom these are his only recordings ever) and Hampton Hawes.

As a bonus, a single trio selection taped by Harris during the same session in which the Criss tracks were recorded.


Tracklisting:

01. ANGEL EYES (5:32)
02. TIN TIN DEO (6:47)
03. JEANNIE’S KNEES (5:12)
04. SATURDAY MORNING (5:05)
05. MY HEART STOOD STILL (6:50)
06. UNTIL THE REAL THING COMES ALONG (5:48)
07. DON’T RAIN ON MY PARADE (4:26)
08. BLUE SUNSET (8:11)
09. I THOUGHT ABOUT YOU (4:45)
10. CALIFORNIA SCREAMIN’ (6:05)
11. CRY ME A RIVER (5:43)
12. I’LL CATCH THE SUN (5:33)
13. CONFUSION (4:05) (*) Bonus Track

Total Time: 74:07 min.


Tracks #1-6 from "Saturday Morning" (Xanadu LP 105).
Tracks #7-12 from "I'll Catch the Sun" (Prestige 7628).


Personnel on "Saturday Morning":
Sonny Criss (as), Barry Harris (p), Leroy Vinnegar (b) and Lenny McBrowne (d). Recorded in Los Angeles, on March 1, 1975.

Track #5 features rhythm section only.

Personnel on "I'll Catch the Sun":
Sonny Criss (as), Hampton Hawes (p), Monty Budwig (b) and Shelly Manne (d). Recorded in Los Angeles, on January 20, 1969.

Tracks #13 Same date and personnel as 1-6, but omit Sonny Criss.


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Notes:

-Saturday Morning

"Just a week after recording the classic "Criss Craft" for Muse, altoist Sonny Criss made the nearly equal "Saturday Morning" for Xanadu. Assisted by the great bop pianist Barry Harris, bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Lenny McBrowne, Criss performs four superior if often-overlooked standards ("Angel Eyes," "Tin Tin Deo," "My Heart Stood Still" and "Until The Real Thing Comes Along"), his blues "Jeannie's Knees" and one of his better originals, "Saturday Morning." Criss, an underrated altoist who was instantly recognizable within three notes, was neglected during long portions of his career but he did leave behind several memorable recordings, such as this one. Recommended."


-I'll Catch the Sun

"Altoist Sonny Criss made some of his finest recordings for Prestige during the mid to late '60s; "I'll Catch the Sun" was the seventh and final. Since this set is only 35 minutes long, it is overly brief, but the straight-ahead music (featuring Criss with pianist Hampton Hawes, bassist Monty Budwig, and drummer Shelly Manne) is often excellent as the altoist performs two blues, two standards (including a passionate "Cry Me a River"), and two forgotten pop tunes from the era."

Both by Scot Yanow -All Music Guide

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