Sonny Clark (p), Paul Chambers, Jymie Merritt, George Duvivier, Wilbur Ware, Red Mitchell (b), Philly Joe Jones, Wes Landers, Louis Hayes, Max Roach, Bobby White (d)
This 3-CD set compiles the complete trio performances by one of the most oustanding pianists of all eras. Although today his playing is revered among many jazz circles, Sonny Clark never achieved fame during his lifetime, due to the fact that, like so many talented jazzmen, he died very young, at the tender age of 31 of a heroin overdose on January 13, 1963, leaving an impressive musical legacy, but certainly without being able to fulfill all the expectations his talent seemed to announce. This set, containing all his trio sessions, an ideal homage to his memory.
01. I Didnt Know What Time It Was
02. I Didnt Know What Time It Was
03. Two Bass Hit
04. Two Bass Hit [Alternate take]
06. Tadds Delight [Alternate take]
07. Tadds Delight
08. Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise
09. Ill Remember April
10. Im Just a Lucky So and So
11. Gee Baby, Aint I Good to You?
12. Gee Baby, Aint I Good to You?
Total time: 61:21 min.
Personnel on tracks #1-8: Sonny Clark (p), Paul Chambers (b) and Philly Joe Jones (d). #9 is a piano solo. Recorded in New York, on October 13, 1957.
Personnel on tracks #10-12: Sonny Clark (p), Jymie Merritt (b) and Wes Landers (d). Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, on November 16, 1958.
01. Aint No Use
02. The Breeze and I
03. I Cant Give You Anything But Love
04. Cant We Be Friends?
05. I Cover the Waterfront
06. Somebody Loves Me
07. Blues in the Night
08. Blues in the Night [Alternate take]
09. All of You
10. Dancing in the Dark
11. Minor Meeting
13. Sonnys Crib
Total time: 62:38 min.
Personnel on tracks #1-3: Sonny Clark (p), Jymie Merritt (b), Wes Landers (d). Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, on November 16, 1958.
Personnel on tracks #4-10: Sonny Clark (p), Paul Chambers (b), Wes Landers (d). Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, on December 7, 1958.
Personnel on tracks #11-13: Sonny Clark (p), George Duvivier (b) & Max Roach (d). Recorded in New York, on March 23, 1960.
1. Blues Mambo
2. Blues Blue
4. My Conception
6. Nica [Alternate take]
7. Blues Blue [Alternate take]
8. Junka [Alternate take]
9. Sonia [Alternate take]
10. Love Walked In
11. Once in a While
Total time: 62:29 min.
Personnel on tracks #1-9: Sonny Clark (p), George Duvivier (b) and Max Roach (d). Recorded in New York, on March 23, 1960.
Personnel on tracks #10: Sonny Clark (p), Wilbur Ware (b) and Louis Hayes (d). Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, July 21, 1957.
Personnel on tracks #11: Red Mitchell (b), Bobby White (d). Recorded in Paris, France, on February 6, 1954.
-Sonny Clark Trio (1957)
"Pianist Sonny Clark sounds very much at home on this trio set with bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones. Sticking to bop standards, Clark essentially plays his version of Bud Powell, carving out his own approach to the influential style. The CD reissue adds three alternates to the six selections and includes such gems as "Two Bass Hit," "Be-Bop" and "Tadd's Delight."
Scott Yanow -All Music Guide
"The sessions that comprise the 14-track Standards were recorded by Sonny Clark at the end of 1958, with the intention that his interpretations would be issued as 45-rpm singles. His takes on these 12 standards (two of the tracks are alternate takes) are exceptional. Supported by drummer Wes Landers and, on varying dates, either Paul Chambers or Jymie Merritt on bass, Clark turns in lyrical, sensitive renditions of "Dancing In the Dark," "All of You," "I Cover the Waterfront," "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," "Black Velvet" and "I'm Just a Lucky So And So," among others. Although some of the performances are a little brief, limiting his opportunity to solo, Standards is a lovely collection of beautiful music that's a welcome addition to Clark's catalog."
Stephen Thomas Erlewine -All Music Guide
-Sonny Clark Trio (1960)
"This lesser-known Sonny Clark session (his only studio album not made for Blue Note) is sometimes issued under drummer Max Roach's name, too. They are joined by bassist George Duvivier for a set of generally obscure Clark originals, including "Minor Meeting," "Blues Mambo," and "My Conception" (which is taken as an unaccompanied piano solo). Although not obvious while listening to his recording, Sonny Clark's life was on the decline, and this would be his last to date as a leader."
Scott Yanow -All Music Guide
-All Music Guide
On CD 3, tracks #6-9 are four never before released alternate takes of "Nica", "Blues Blue", "Junka" and "Sonia".
Track #10 is the only trio track from the sextet album "Dial S For Sonny".
Track #11 is the only trio track from a session led by guitarist Jimmy Raney (although Raney himself does not play here).