Cool Struttin’ cover

Cool Struttin’

Released

This 1958 album is an undeniable classic of the hard bop era. Pianist Sonny Clark is joined by trumpeter Art Farmer, alto saxophonist Jackie McLean, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones. The title track is a seductive blues groove, “Blue Minor” a jumpy soul jazz workout with a slight Latin tinge to its main melody. The album’s second side features a furious version of Miles Davis’s early bebop piece, “Sippin’ At Bells,” on which Chambers takes one of his trademark bowed solos, and ends with the old standard “Deep Night.” There are no ballads here, but Jones keeps the beat laid-back even at the jumpiest moments, and the horns fly below the radar, favoring melody over pyrotechnics.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
Orange Fish Tears cover

Orange Fish Tears

Baikida Carroll
Plays Duke Ellington cover

Plays Duke Ellington

World Saxophone Quartet
Midnight Blue cover

Midnight Blue

Kenny Burrell
Accent on the Blues cover

Accent on the Blues

Big John Patton
Song X cover

Song X

Pat Metheny, Ornette Coleman
What’s Up? cover

What’s Up?

Michel Camilo
Bumpin’ cover

Bumpin’

Wes Montgomery
Second Sight cover

Second Sight

Marc Johnson
Love Hurts cover

Love Hurts

Julian Lage