When in 1954 German pianist Jutta Hipp (1925-2003) made these recordings, she was already considered Europes first Lady of Jazz. Jutta not only was building a solid reputation among the European audiences, but also amazed American visitors with her playing. She was a musician of rare sensitivity, strength of imagination, and fresh individuality, who had been influenced by Lennie Tristano. But however touched she was by Lennie and other major pianists, she was making her own way.
Leonard Feather, who introduced her to the American jazz fans, said: That a new jazz star should be a German is almost without precedent. That this brilliant young discovery should also be a girl is rare too, and a pretty girl even rarer.
Tracklist
Total time: 68:07 min.
01. Simone I (Emil Mangelsdorff) 2:20
02. Anything Goes (Cole Porter) 2:40
03. Yogi (Joki Freund) 2:54
04. Frankfurt Special (Joki Freund) 3:49
05. Mon Petit (I Never Knew) (Jutta Hipp) 3:24
06. Blue Skies (Irving Berlin) 2:50
07. Lover Man (Davis-Ramirez-Sherman) 3:44
08. Diagram (Olsen) 3:28
09. Cleopatra (Joki Freund) 3:20
10. Variations (Jutta Hipp) 3:07
11. Don't Worry About Me (Koehler-Bloom) 3:04
12. Ghost Of A Chance (Victor Young) 3:32
13. Laura (Raksin-Mercer) 3:06
14. What's New (Haggart-Burke) 4:44
15. Frankfurt Special (Joki Freund) 3:40
16. Don't Worry About Me (Koehler-Bloom) 2:25
17. Simone II (Emil Mangelsdorff) 3:02
18. Morning Fun (Zoot Sims) 3:05
19. Mon Petit (I Never Knew) (Jutta Hipp) 3:17
20. Frankfurt Special (Joki Freund) 5:40
Album details
Personnel: Jutta Hipp Quintet
Emil Mangelsdorff (alto sax), Joki Freund (tenor sax), Jutta Hipp (piano), Hans Kresse (bass), Karl Sanner (drums).
Tracks #1-8, recorded in Frankfurt, on April 13, 1954
Tracks #9-14, recorded in Frankfurt, on April 24, 1954
Tracks #15-18, recorded in Köln, on July 28, 1954
Tracks #19-20, recorded Live at the Deutsche Jazz Festival, Frankfurt, on June 6, 1954
On #12, Joki Freund out
On #13, Emil Mangelsdorff out
On #7,8,11 & 14, Joki Freund & Emil Mangelsdorff out
Cover photo courtesy of Thomas Fenn
Produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol
