[.ca] Sonnys Crib

From Amazon.com:
Because the great hard-bop pianist died at age 31, each of his recordings carries that much more weight. This 1957 outing features a top-shelf unit including John Coltrane (two weeks before he waxed the legendary Blue Train), Donald Byrd, Paul Chambers, Curtis Fuller, and Art Taylor. Clark had all the urgency and drive of hard bop's funkiest pianists, but he tempered it with an artfulness and elegance that was perhaps a remnant of his West Coast years. This ensemble brings to life standards such as "Speak Low" (with vibrant Latin head), "With a Song in My Heart" (at brisk tempo), and "Come Rain or Come Shine" (caressed at an especially slow clip), while Clark's two originals give ample room for the soloists to shine. The 1998 reissue adds three alternate takes to an already exciting session. --Marc Greilsamer

Sonny Clark: He The Man:
Another excellent Sonny Clark Bluenote, not as tight perhaps as Cool Struttin' or as rhapsodic as Leapin' and Lopin', but a loose, swinging air of conviviality pervades throughout. Things are enlivened by the presence of John Coltrane, as well as Curtis Fuller on trombone. Though Fuller also appeared on Dial "S" For Sonny, his playing sounds better here, perhaps because the interplay with Coltrane is a cut above. With all the room that the soloists are given to stretch out, things still never become dull or pro forma (as they sometimes can in these 'blowing sessions'). Clark's sinewy lines and lucid sense of swing never fail to satisfy. One wonders if the folks who program the Bluenote "Connoisseur" series will next reissue the Sonny Clark Trio album, with all the alternate takes at the end. Hope so.

Sonny Clark: He The Man:
Another excellent Sonny Clark Bluenote album, not as tight perhaps as Cool Struttin' or as rhapsodic as Leapin' and Lopin', but a loose, swinging air of conviviality pervades throughout. Things are enlivened by the presence of John Coltrane, as well as the superb Curtis Fuller on trombone. On the whole this album strikes me as better than both the eponymous Trio and Dial 'S' if not quite the equal of Cool Struttin' or Leapin' and Lopin'---but then, Clark's sinewy lines and lucid sense of swing never fail to satisfy. One wonders if the folks who program the Bluenote "Connoisseur" series will next reissue The Sonny Clark Trio, with all the alternate takes at the end. Hope so.

Not as good as "Dial S For Sonny":
This release is a mess- track number 2 has a huge audible dropout that lasts for several minutes, so the alternate take must be used if you dont want to hear an unacceptable technical flaw. Also the dates of the recording session are in question, and differ from information provided by Japanese Blue Note catalogue 1985 (400 pages). This is Sonny Clark's SECOND recording , not his first, as Dial S For Sonny is his first recording as a leader- thats an established fact. Furthermore, his first recording (Dial S For Sonny) is a more intimate affair- a better album than Sonny's Crib in my opinion, with a better mix of rarer musicians like Wilbur Ware on bass. No doubt Clark's best recording is Cool Struttin'.

Damn solid.:
An excellent Blue Note blowing session. Trombonist Curtis Fuller(who does indeed also play on the Dial "S" For Sonny album) is in fine form and seems spurred on by the presence of Coltrane. Donald Byrd cooks on trumpet, and Coltrane shows what a good sideman he could be back then. Overall there's a better feeling to this September 1, 1957 session than on Dial "S", recorded only nine weeks later. While this album is perhaps not QUITE the equal of Cool Struttin' (Jackie McClean was a particularly apposite collaborator) Clark's sinewy lines and lucid sense of swing never fail to satisfy. Maybe the folks who program the Bluenote "Connoisseur" series will next reissue The Sonny Clark Trio, with all the alternate takes at the end as they did here. How about it folks?

A bebop masterpiece of sound:
My reviews of Sonny Clark are repeating themselves again because this album (CD) by Clark is another must have for any fan of bebop Jazz. Clark recorded this using his outstanding improvisational skill on the piano and the supporting musicians on this recording makes it a must have. Clarks recordings of "With A Smile In My Heart", "Speak Low", "News For LuLu", and my personal favorite "Sonny's Crib" is bebop in your face Jazz at its best. This is a CD that is constantly in my stereo and everytime I listen to it, I am blown away at the amazing Piano playing that Clark had. This CD as well as all of Clark's released recordings during his unfortunate brief life/Jazz Career are a definite must have.

• With a Song in My Heart
• Speak Low
• Come Rain or Come Shine
• Sonny's Crib
• News for Lulu
• With a Song in My Heart
• Speak Low
• Sonny's Crib