For me, the hunt is on for every title that Booker Little is present on, and that has been going on for quite a while. I’ve found some of them, but plenty still remains to be found. Many titles are quite difficult to track down. This title on United Artists is great and it’s also quite the rare find. My copy is a beautiful white label promo and I’m very pleased to have been able to file this back in the spring.
Booker Little was of course a superbly gifted trumpeter who died far too young. That theme is very familiar, unfortunately. But in his short time on earth he recorded some outstanding stuff, most notably with Max Roach, and he was also part of, for me, one of the greatest assembled jazz groups of all time, the one with Eric Dolphy that performed live on the Five Spot albums. He also recorded “Far Cry”, released on New Jazz, with Dolphy, and that is a brilliant album as well.
On a top 5 list of favorite trumpeters of mine he ranks 2nd. I absolutely love his style of playing, which is very technical and lyrical at the same time. He also was a great composer. His original compositions are very interesting and feel fresh still to this day. A lovely brand of jazz that is right up my alley. It’s so tragic that he didn’t get to live longer and play on more albums and compose more music. I’m sure he would have created some unbelievable stuff.
Regarding the recording quality on this session; it’s not the best. The entire group sound quite muted, the trumpet sounds good though. The drums sound soggy. But the quality of the music makes up for that in spades. Sometimes you find that certain albums just weren’t recorded that great, it’s just the way it is, and for me that just brings an element of charm. I put on Donald Byrd’s “The Cat Walk” on Blue Note straight after and my lord, what a difference in sound! Unreal. Such punch, attack, clarity, definition and volume.
Anyway, highly recommended stuff if you haven’t heard this one. I hope to be able to find the titles on Time and Bethlehem next. Let’s see if I get lucky.
Do you have a favorite Booker Little album? Please share.
Cheers!