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In Action ~ J.R. Monterose and The Joe Abodeely Trio | By Eddie Carter

My next record from the library up for discussion is a little-known but highly sought-after 1964 studio album by tenor saxophonist J.R. Monterose and The Joe Abodeely Trio. In Action (Studio 4 SS 100) was recorded during a ten-month engagement at Iowa’s only jazz club at the time, The Tender Trap, which Abodeely owned. This album, with its historical significance in Monterose’s discography, is a unique release. There were only two hundred fifty original LPs made; fans could only purchase them at the cloakroom of the Cedar Rapids Jazz Club, and an original Mint pressing would cost a collector four figures or more. He was born Frank Anthony Peter Vincent Monterose, Jr. and the initials J.R. come from Jr.

Monterose began playing the clarinet at age thirteen, then took up the tenor sax two years later after hearing tenor man Tex Beneke, who was a member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. The trio consists of Dale Oehler on the piano, Gary Allen on bass, and Joe Abodeely on drums. My copy is the 1983 U.S. Mono reissue (V.S.O.P. Records V.S.O.P. #1), a small record label known for its high-quality reissues of jazz LPs from the fifties and sixties. Waltz For Claire is a very pretty tune by J.R., starting with a cheerful theme. He continues with a blissful opening statement by the saxophonist, who communicates his feelings about the young lady with a charming performance. Dale takes the listener on a relaxing joyride in the closing solo ahead of the theme’s restatement and close.

I Should Care by Alex Stordahl, Paul Weston and Sammy Cahn premiered in the 1945 film Thrill of a Romance. The quartet begins with Monterose’s sensual sound of his tenor sax, delivering a delicate melody and then handling each note of the opening statement with tender, loving care. Oehler follows with a passionate performance packed with plenty of feeling before J.R. repeats the theme. That You Are, Monterose’s next tune, is a creative reimagining of All The Things You Are, a popular jazz standard. Monterose builds on the changes of the original with an upbeat, bright, bouncy theme. J.R. puts his thoughts into expressive verses first. Dave provides the exclamation point in an energetic solo, leading to the ending theme and fadeout.

The tempo moves upward to kick off the second side with Red Devil by Monterose, beginning at a brisk beat for the quartet’s theme. The saxophonist leads off with a flawless opening solo, and then Oehler dazzles on the finale with an imaginative flair. Lover Man by Jimmy Davis, Roger Ramirez, and James Sherman begins with a pensive melody by the foursome, segueing to J.R.s intimately warm interpretation. Dave responds with a delicately elegant and beautiful presentation. Monterose closes with a few final comments of exquisite softness anchored by Gary and Joe’s subtle supplement ahead of the tender close.

The final track is Monterose’s Herky Hawks, an uptempo tune that deceptively starts with a two-instrument conversation between the saxophonist and pianist at a slow tempo. This musical dialogue sets the stage for the rest of the piece. The discussion gradually builds in intensity, leading to a swift-moving speedy theme. This tune is a scorcher from the start, and the saxophonist turns the heat way up in the first of two solos. Dave attacks the next reading with aggressive fierceness, and then J.R. ends the album with a blistering final performance preceding the climax.

The recording engineers on this reissue are Dimitri Sotirakis and Myron Schiebel. Although there’s no information on either engineer, their work speaks volumes. They’ve done an excellent job with the sound quality of this album, bringing out the richness and depth of the music. The excellent sonics throughout the treble, midrange and bass complement the inspired performances by J.R. Monterose and The Joe Abodeely Trio, making In Action an underrated release deserving a spot in your jazz library!

~ Lover Man – Source: JazzStandards.com

~ I Should Care – Source: Wikipedia.org

© 2024 by Edward Thomas Carter



 

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