Earl Bostic - Blues & Rhythm Series Classics '2015

Tracks list

Tracklist

01. Velvet Sunset
02. Moonglow
03. Linger Awhile
04. Aint Misbehavin
05. You Go to My Head
06. The Hour of Parting
07. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
08. For You
09. The Sheik of Araby
10. Cherokee
11. Steam Whistle Jump
12. The Song Is Ended
13. Melancholy Serenade
14. The Very Thought Of You
15. Memories
16. What, No Pearls
17. Smoke Rings
18. Deep Purple
19. Jungle Drums
20. Cracked Ice
21. Danube Waves
22. Poeme
23. My Heart at Thy Sweet Voice
24. O Sole Mio
25. Off Shore


Alto saxophonist Earl Bostic was a technical master of his instrument, yet
remained somewhat underappreciated by jazz fans due to the string of simple,
popular R&B/jump blues hits he recorded during his heyday in the 50s. Born
Eugene Earl Bostic in Tulsa, OK, on April 25, 1913, Bostic played around the
Midwest during the early 30s, studied at Xavier University, and toured with
several bands before moving to New York in 1938. There he played for Don Redman,
Edgar Hayes, and Lionel Hampton, making his record debut with the latter in
1939. In the early 40s, he worked as an arranger and session musician, and began
leading his own regular large group in 1945. Cutting back to a septet the next
year, Bostic began recording regularly, scoring his first big hit with 1948s
Temptation. He soon signed with the King label, the home of most of his biggest
jukebox hits, which usually featured a driving, heavy, R&B-ish beat and an alto
sound that could be smooth and romantic or aggressive and bluesy.
In 1951, Bostic landed a number one R&B hit with Flamingo, plus another Top Ten
in Sleep. Subsequent hits included You Go to My Head and Cherokee. Bostics bands
became important training grounds for up-and-coming jazzmen like John Coltrane,
Blue Mitchell, Stanley Turrentine, Benny Golson, Jaki Byard, and others.
Unfortunately, Bostic suffered a heart attack in the late 50s, which kept him
away from music for two years. He returned to performing in 1959, but didnt
record quite as extensively; when he did record in the 60s, his sessions were
more soul-jazz than the proto-R&B of old. On October 28, 1965, Bostic suffered a
fatal heart attack while playing a hotel in Rochester, NY.

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