The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

October 6, 1992 was the Fantasy reissued compact disc release date of the original Prestige/Moodsville Records is my next exploration into one of the world’s great bop, cool jazz, and soul-jazz tenor saxophonists to keep me company during this pandemic. The Gene Ammons Story: Gentle Jug is a compilation reissue of sixteen songs recorded on two separate dates. A master at interpreting ballads, Gene Ammons presents lyrical music that is quite enjoyable.

The album was produced and original photography taken by Esmond Edwards, recorded by Rudy Van Gelder at Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, and the art direction was contributed by Phil Carroll. The reissue producer and writer of the liner notes was Bob Porter and the album was remastered by Phil De Lancie.

A compilation of two previously released albums, 1961’s Nice an’ Cool” (1 to 8) recorded on January 26, 1961, and 1962’s The Soulful Mood of Gene Ammons (9 to 16) recorded April 14, 1962. Tracks 1 to 8, originally issued on Prestige / Moodsville 18 as Gene Ammons – Nice An’ Cool Tracks 9 to 16, originally issued on Prestige / Moodsville 28 as Gene Ammons – The Soulful Moods Of Gene Ammons.

Tracklist

Nice An’ Cool

1. Till There Was You (Meredith Wilson ~ 7:08
2. Answer Me, My Love (Rauch, Winkler) ~ 4:35
3. Willow Weep For Me (Ann Ronell) ~ 4:00
4. Little Girl Blue (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart) ~ 4:55
5. Something I Dreamed Last Night (Magidson, Yellen, Fain) ~ 7:41
6. Something Wonderful (Riodgers, Hammerstein) ~ 3:03
7. I Remember You (Mercer, Schertzinger) ~ 4:21
8. Someone To Watch Over Me (Gershwin, Gershwin) ~ 3:48

1. Two Different Worlds (Frisch, Wayne) ~ 4:53
2. But Beautiful (Burke, Van Heusen) ~ 4:27
3. Skylark (Carmichael, Mercer) ~ 6:19
4. Three Little Words (Kalmar, Ruby) ~ 3:49
5. On The Street Of Dreams (Lewis, Young) ~ 3:09
6. You’d Be So Nice To Come Home (Cole Porter) ~ 4:17
7. Under A Blanket Of Blue (Neiburg, Livington, Symes) ~ 5:12
8. I’m Glad There’s You (Dorsey, Mertz) ~ 6:02

• Gene Ammons ~ Tenor Saxophone
• Patti Bown (tracks: 9 to 16) | Richard Wyands (tracks: 1 to 8) ~ Piano
• Doug Watkins (tracks: 1 to 8) | George Duvivier (tracks: 9 to 16) ~ Bass
• Ed Shaughnessy (tracks: 9 to 16) | J.C. Heard (tracks: 1 to 8) ~ Drums

When the curtain goes up and the pandemic is controlled I will return to flying around the globe discovering the best of jazz. Until that time arrives stay safe and healthy.

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