Big Joe Turner Boss Of The Blues CD

Joe Turner teams up with his long time partner, pianist Pete Johnson, to perform rollicking Kansas City Jazz on this original 1956 Atlantic recording. 'Cherry Red', 'Wee Baby Blues' & 'Piney Brown Blues' capture the magic of Joe Turner at his best. Collectables. 2002.

Personnel: Big Joe Turner (vocals); Freddie Green (guitar); Pete Brown (alto saxophone); Seldon Powell, Frank Wess (tenor saxophone); Joe Newman, Jimmy Nottingham (trumpet); Lawrence Brown (trombone); Pete Johnson (piano); Walter Page (bass); Cliff Leeman (drums).
Originally released on Atlantic (1234). Includes liner notes by Whitney Balliett.
Personnel: Big Joe Turner (vocals); Freddie Green (guitar); Pete Brown (alto saxophone); Frank Wess, Seldon Powell (tenor saxophone); Joe Newman , Jimmy Nottingham (trumpet); Lawrence Brown (trombone); Pete Johnson (piano); Cliff Leeman (drums).
Liner Note Author: Whitney Balliett.
Recording information: Carnegie Recital Hall; New York, NY.
Arranger: Ernie Wilkins.
Widely considered to be one of Big Joe Turner's finest albums, 1956's THE BOSS OF THE BLUES finds the hefty Missouri-born singer working through the blues in Kansas City jazz style. Turner is reunited with his old partner from the '30s and '40s, pianist Pete Johnson, making this a particularly poignant recording. As in their earlier days, Turner's booming voice and Johnson's boogie-tinged piano lines complement each other perfectly, as best revealed on lightly swinging reworkings of signature tunes such as "Low Down Dog" and "Wee Baby Blues." These songs were notable departures from Turner's proto-rock-&-roll hits of that era ("Shake, Rattle and Roll," "Honey Hush," etc.), proving that he was equally at home with blues, jazz, and (what would become) rock. In addition to the stellar performances by Turner and Johnson, BOSS also features a tight backing ensemble consisting of veterans of Count Basie's band, including tenor saxophonist Frank Wess and trumpeter Joe Newman.
During an era when Big Joe Turner recordings were often surprise hits with rock & roll fans (particularly "Shake, Rattle and Roll"), he occasionally recorded no-nonsense blues-oriented jazz dates too. This reissue album matched Turner for one of the last times with the veteran boogie-woogie pianist Pete Johnson and also includes a variety of top swing players: trumpeter Joe Newman, trombonist Lawrence Brown, altoist Pete Brown, tenor saxophonist Frank Wess, guitarist Freddie Green, bassist Walter Page, and drummer Cliff Leeman. It is not surprising, considering the number of Basie-ites on the date, that the band often sounds like a Count Basie combo. Turner is in top form on remakes of some of his early tunes (including "Cherry Red," "Roll 'Em Pete," and "Wee Baby Blues"), a few traditional blues, and a couple of swing standards. This music should appeal to many listeners. ~ Scott Yanow