Gems Of Jazz: All Star Jazz Artists CD - Import

The classical label Delos ventured into jazz for a few years in the late '80s and early '90s, putting out this compilation to give listeners a wide-ranging sampling of what it had to offer. Joe Williams' delightful blues "Who She Do" features alto saxophonist Cleanhead Vinson, guitarist Phil Upchurch, and the leader's swinging, humorous vocal. Trumpet great Clark Terry offers cooking bop in "The Snapper" and doubles on trumpet and flügelhorn while he trades licks with alto saxophonist Bunky Green and tenor saxophonist Red Holloway in a brilliant take of the ballad "Don't Blame Me." The always powerful hard bop of Art Blakey is represented by young alto saxophonist Kenny Garrett's "Feeling Good." Also not to be missed is the father-daughter team of Jimmy & Stacy Rowles for a Latin-flavored take of "You Don't Know What Love Is." Sadly, Delos unwisely chose to discontinue its line of jazz CDs not long after this collection was released in 1991, though the individual releases from which it was put together are all worth picking up, as is this now hard-to-find sampler. ~ Ken Dryden

Unknown Contributor Role: Bobby Shew.

Personnel: Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson (vocals, alto saxophone); Clark Terry (vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn); Joe Williams (vocals); John Collins, Phil Upchurch, John Collins (guitar); Red Holloway (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Kenny Garrett, Bunky Green (alto saxophone); Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis , Lou Orensteen, Harold Land, Jean Toussaint, Benny Golson (tenor saxophone); Charles Davis (baritone saxophone); Chuck Findley (trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone); Stacy Rowles, Bobby Shew (trumpet, flugelhorn); Don Sickler, Wallace Roney, Thad Jones (trumpet); Curtis Fuller, Tim "T-Bone" Williams , Steve Turre (trombone); Jack McDuff (piano, organ); Donald Brown , John Campbell, Jimmy Rowles, John Campbell , Norman Simmons, Art Resnick, Billy Childs, Billy Childs Trio, Cedar Walton (piano); Jerry Peters (keyboards); Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone); Donald Bailey (drums, percussion); Gerryck King, Lewis Nash, Ralph Penland, Art Blakey, Sherman Ferguson, Billy Higgins (drums).

Liner Note Author: Ed Bland.