Personnel:
Tony Scott (cl, bs), Clark Terry (tp), Sahib Shihab (bs), Jimmy Knepper (tb), Bill Evans (p), Milt Hinton, Henry Grimes (b), Paul Motian (d)
Reference: FSRCD 333
Bar code: 8427328603331
From 1955-1959 Tony Scott was the real Number One on clarinet enjoying considerable fame having been awarded top clarinet honors by the Downbeat International Jazz Critics' poll as well as winning Downbeat's 'New star on baritone sax'. He claims to be the first person to have used Clark Terry and Bill Evans. Scott's sincerely held belief is that improvisation is the very essence of good jazz. He anticiped the free jazz of the '60s, Indo-jazz fusions and the incorporation of ethnic music into the music of the '80s. On these recordings, we can hear him at a peak moment in his life.
"Tony Scott led several small groups of various sizes during the month of November 1957, resulting in three separate LPs being issued by Seeco, Carlton, and Perfect without duplicating any of the 24 tracks. This Fresh Sound two-CD set collects everything recorded during these sessions. Scott's core group features pianist Bill Evans (not long after he was discharged from military service), either Milt Hinton or Henry Grimes on bass, and drummer Paul Motian.
In addition to his powerful clarinet, Scott plays a potent baritone sax on six selections. The music includes a few standards, a handful of originals by Scott, and some obscure compositions. Trombonist Jimmy Knepper is a guest on several songs, providing a perfect foil for the leader in a snappy take of "The Lady Is a Tramp," with the soloing on clarinet and baritone saxophonist Sahib Shihab following Knepper. Trumpeter Clark Terry (still with Duke Ellington at the time) blows a very soft solo in a subdued arrangement of "Tenderly." Even though Evans was yet to make his mark as a leader or composer, his "Five" is heard in extended form rather than as a brief signoff as he played on early recording dates of his own. He also solos brilliantly in "There Will Never Be Another You." The title to this collection is a bit misleading, as trustworthy discographies list these sessions as being recorded over several days. Because obtaining each of the originally issued LPs is likely to be very expensive for collectors, this comprehensive CD set is the better alternative."
—Ken Dryden (All Music Guide)
