AOTW: Mel Lewis - Mel Lewis And Friends (SP-716)

[Captain Bacardi]

Mel Lewis
MEL LEWIS AND FRIENDS
A&M/Horizon SP716

Released 1977

Format: Vinyl/CD (CD 0823)

Produced by John Snyder

Musicians:
Mel Lewis - Drums
Ron Carter - Acoustic Bass
Hank Jones - Acoustic Piano
Freddie Hubbard - Trumpet & Flugelhorn
Michael Brecker - Tenor Saxophone
Gregory Herbert - Alto Saxophone
Cecil Bridgewater - Trumpet (6)

Songs:

• 1. Ain't Nothin' Nu (Thad Jones) 8:12
  2. A Child Is Born (Thad Jones) 6:35
  3. Moose The Mooche (Charlie Parker) 8:08
  4. De Samba (Ron Carter) 5:53
  5. Windflower (Sarah Cassey) 6:13
  6. Sho' Nuff Did (Thad Jones) 10:20
  7. Mel Lewis - Rhythm (Mel Lewis) :32

Recorded June 8 & 9 and mixed June 18, 1976 at Generation Sound, NYC
Engineered by Tony May
Music Supervision by Thad Jones
Special thanks to Pete Dennis

Art Direction: Roland Young
Design: June Osaki
Cover Illustration: Marilyn Shimokochi
Session Photography: John Snyder and Ricardo Salas

Liner notes by Peter Keepnews


Capt. Bacardi

 

[Mr Bill]

Just found the cover image -- no more "red-x-in-the-box!"

--Mr Bill

 

[Captain Bacardi]

This is probably my favorite Horizon recording as far as straight-ahead jazz goes. It's a straight bop album, superbly played. At this time (1976) Freddie Hubbard was mired in these Bob James-produced "fusion" albums, while Michael Brecker was heavy into his collaboration with brother Randy and the Brecker Brothers group. So it was a real treat to hear these two playing real jazz, and did they ever come through! The whole album is a treat. For me the highlights are Charlie Parker's "Moose The Mooche" and Thad Jones' "Sho' Nuff Did". Hank Jones is his usual stellar self as is Ron Carter. This is one of the better jazz albums released under the A&M logo, and I would recommend any jazz fan to pick this album up!


Capt. Bacardi

 

[Captain Bacardi]

I should mention that I got to play with Mel Lewis while I was at Ball State in '82. His drumming was somewhat unremarkable as far as a solo goes, but he could keep a groove going during the ensemble sections.

One other thing I remember about this album - shortly after this release saxophonist Gregory Herbert joined Blood Sweat & Tears and died soon afterwards due to a heroin overdose. Lewis made some comments about how rock bands destroy musicians in an issue of Down Beat and he caught a lot of fire for that comment. He made it sound as if every rock band was ingesting drugs and they were all a bad influence on kids. Not a very popular point of view back then.


Capt. Bacardi