David X. Young's Jazz Loft: 1954-1965 CD

Painter/photographer David X. Young utilized his artist loft in New York City's Flower District as a forum and meeting place for many jazz musicians to stretch their wares, amid other extracurricular activities, during the mid-1950s up until 1965. With this sharply dressed 2000 two-CD release, the folks at Jazz Magnet offer the listener over two hours of previously unreleased jam material spanning 1957 through 1965, featuring tenor sax legend Zoot Sims, trombonist Bob Brookmeyer, pianist Dave McKenna, bassist Steve Swallow, and many others of note. Young originally recorded these performances on his Webcor tape machine, and the sonic characteristics are perhaps no less inferior than some of those dearly beloved Charlie Parker LPs that have subsequently been reissued on CD format. Essentially, these various small group ensembles swing into the late night hours, covering such material as Dizzy Gillespie's "Groovin High," Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing," along with other standards and originals. And to augment these historic recordings, there is a very appealing 42-page booklet, complete with introductory liner notes by jazz journalist Howard Mandel, candid recollections from bassist Bill Crow, Brookmeyer, and others, along with a sampling of Young's illustrations and paintings. This compilation also includes a poster that is suitable for framing. Overall, the producers have assembled an appealing yet thoroughly contemporary synopsis of a very complex and altogether curiously interesting period in American jazz music. ~ Glenn Astarita

This 2-CD box set with book documents a unique and special time in the history of jazz: for over a decade, artist Young's loft in New York City's Flower District flourished as the legendary after hours Mecca for great jazz musicians like T. Monk, Charles

Recorded in New York, New York between 1957 and 1965. Includes liner notes by Howard Mandel, Bob Brookmeyer, Teddy Charles, Bill Crow, David X. Young, and Juan Osaka McFelsnir.

Digitally remastered by Katherine Miller (Current Sound).

Personnel: Jim Hall, Jimmy Raney (guitar); Pepper Adams (baritone saxophone); Jerry Lloyd, Don Ellis (trumpet); Bob Brookmeyer (valve trombone); Dave McKenna, Hall Overton, Mose Allison (piano); Dick Scott , Jerry Segal (drums).

Liner Note Authors: Howard Mandel; David X. Young; Teddy Charles; Bill Crow; Bob Brookmeyer.

Recording information: ??/1954-04/1965.

Photographer: David X. Young.

Personnel includes: Zoot Sims (tenor saxophone); Pepper Adams (baritone saxophone); Don Ellis, Jerry Lloyd (trumpet); Bob Brookmeyer (valve trombone, piano); Hall Overton, Dave McKenna, Mose Allison (piano); Jimmy Raney, Jim Hall (guitar); Bill Crow, Steve Swallow, Bill Takas (bass); Jerry Segal, Dick Scott (drums).

Down Beat (3/01, pp.63-4) - 3.5 out of 5 - "...To go back...to that faraway moment, and that circle of artists so close-knit and creative, is like reading about Paris in the '20s. It is impossible not to envy those who were there."