Active for some years as a semi-professional jazz vibist, Lem Winchester, a police officer in Wilmington, Del., was largely unknown when jazz critic Leonard Feather first heard him in 1958 and brought him to the Newport Jazz festival that year. There, his stellar performance astounded audiences, musicians and critics alike.
Issued as part of the album New Faces at Newport, it opened up for him the prospect of a career in jazz. Backed by Ramsey Lewiss well integrated trio, he made his first record as leader a few months later, working beautifully with Lewis on the tribute album to the late trumpeter, Clifford Brown, a boyhood friend of the vibist, included here.
As a cop, however, Winchester was violating police regulations by working as a weekend musician in his home town and in Philadelphia jazz spots. So, having recorded few highly praised albums, after eleven years of trying to decide between pounding a beat and keeping one, he turned in his badge and gun in the summer of 1960 and joined the jazz fraternity full time. Unfortunatelyand ironicallya few months later he shot himself in a tragic bit of pistol horseplay in an Indianapolis club.
Tracklisting:
01. Presentation 0:49
02. Nows the Time (Charlie Parker) 4:23
03. Polka Dots and Moonbeams (Burke-Van Heusen) 5:40
04. Take the A Train (Billy Strayhorn) 4:51
05. Joy Spring (Clifford Brown) 3:23
06. Where It Is (Lem Winchester) 4:28
07. Sandu (Clifford Brown) 6:12
08. Once in a While (M. Edwards) 5:28
09. Jordu (Duke Jordan) 3:24
10. It Could Happen to You (J. Van Heusen) 3:39
11. Easy to Love (Cole Porter) 3:35
12. A Message from Boysie (Robert Lowery) 5:08
Sources:
Tracks #1-4 originally released on Side B of the album "New Faces at Newport" (Metrojazz E 1005)
Tracks #5-12, from the Lem Winchester-Ramsey Lewis Trio LP "Perform a Tribute to Clifford Brown"
(Argo LP(S) 642)
Note: You can find Side A of the album New Faces at Newport included on the CD Randy Weston Trio and Sextet (FSRCD 433)
Personnel on #1-4:
Lem Winchester, vibes; Ray Santisi, piano; John Neves, bass; and Jimmy Zitano, drums
Recorded in Newport Jazz Festival, Newport, R.I., on July 6, 1958
Personnel on #5-12:
Lem Winchester, vibes; Ramsey Lewis, piano; Eldee Young, bass; and Issac Redd Holt, drums.
Recorded in Chicago, on October 8, 1958
Original recordings supervised by Leonard Feather (#1-4) and produced by Dave Usher (#5-12)
Compiled for CD release by Jordi Pujol
Stereo · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered
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