Tadd Dameron - The Chronological Classics: 1947-1949 '2000

Tracks list

Tracklist

01. I Think Ill Go Away (2:57)
02. Dont Mention Love to Me (3:13)
03. The Chase (2:48)
04. The Squirrel (3:00)
05. Our Delight (3:00)
06. Dameronia (3:02)
07. A Be-Bop Carroll (3:00)
08. The Tadd Walk (2:53)
09. Gone with the Wind (3:12)
10. That Someone Must Be You (3:03)
11. Jahbero (2:57)
12. Lady Bird (2:54)
13. Symphonette (3:10)
14. I Think Ill Go Away (3:18)
15. Anthropology - Part 1 (2:06)
16. Anthropology - Part 2 (1:56)
17. Sids Delight (2:55)
18. Casbah (3:00)
19. Johns Delight (2:58)
20. Whats New (3:01)
21. Heavens Doors Are Wide Open (3:20)
22. Focus (2:59) 

Although Tadd Dameron was a talented pianist, he never considered piano playing
his strong point -- the bebopper was best known for his writing and arranging,
and when he recorded as a leader (which wasnt all that often), Dameron was quite
happy to let his sidemen take most of the solos. Dameron can hardly be accused
of hogging the solo space on 1947-1949, a collection of small-group and big-band
sides he recorded as a leader for Blue Note and Savoy, among others, from August
1947-April 1949. The material, most of it superb, falls into two main
categories: hard-swinging bop instrumentals and romantic ballads featuring
vocalists. On the instrumentals (which include Our Delight, Dameronia, The
Squirrel, Lady Bird, and other Dameron originals), he features some of early
bops heavy-hitting soloists, including trumpeter Fats Navarro (a major influence
on Clifford Brown), tenor saxman Wardell Gray, and alto saxman Ernie Henry (who,
like Sonny Stitt, was a Charlie Parker disciple but not a clone). And Damerons
romantic side takes over when he features Kay Penton (a delightful though
underexposed vocalist) on several ballads (including Whats New and Gone With the
Wind) and employs the Billy Eckstine-influenced Kenny Hagood on I Think Ill Go
Away. Meanwhile, singer Rae Pearl (who later went by Rae Harrison) provides a
wordless vocal on Damerons dreamy Casbah. Boasting some of Damerons most
essential work, this French release is recommended without hesitation to lovers
of early bop.

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