CLIFFORD BROWN — Memorial Album (review)

CLIFFORD BROWN — Memorial Album album cover Album · 1956 · Bop Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
js
(This review was written using the original vinyl LP release). I love these old jazz records that give you an artist playing with two different bands on the same record, it’s a great way to hear an artist’s development and how they react in different groups. This album was recorded when ‘Brownie’ was new on the scene and still playing in the bop tradition of the time. In a few years he and Max Roach will forge a new bluesier sound to be called hard bop. You can already hear the blues in Brown’s bop playing, he’s not as technical as Diz, nor as introspective as Miles, but Brown’s playing is always bright, energetic, melodic and a pure pleasure to listen to.

The first recording date is actually on side 2 and sounds a little more modern than side 1. Side 2’s band features the aggressive almost avant-garde leaning drum work of Philly Jo Jones who plays lots of busy fills. You can hear the roots of Tony Williams and Elvin Jones in his adventurous stick work. Saxophonist Lou Donaldson is on fire and even outshines Clifford on a couple tunes. The side 1 band features a double saxophone section that makes for a very appealing retro swing band sound. Blakey’s drumming is more conservative and in the pocket than Philly Jo, but still great.

This early record is not considered one of Clifford Brown’s best, that will come later with Max Roach, but it is still has some great be-bop with all the bright positive high-octane energy you would expect from this era in jazz.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Cabaret Eclectic Fusion
MARIUS NESET
Buy this album from MMA partners
Living Ghosts Post-Fusion Contemporary
MICHAEL WOLLNY
Buy this album from MMA partners
Live at Donte's, Vol. 1 Vocal Jazz
MIKE CAMPBELL
Buy this album from MMA partners
Sunday Afternoon Fusion
FURIO DI CASTRI
Buy this album from MMA partners
São Paulo Creative 4 : Supernova Avant-Garde Jazz
IVO PERELMAN
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Sunday afternoon
FURIO DI CASTRI
snobb· 7 hours ago
Harmônicos
FABIANO DO NASCIMENTO
js· 21 hours ago
Con Alma
GENE BERTONCINI
js· 1 day ago
Our Walk (Live)
BEN MARKLEY
js· 1 day ago
Solar (feat. Vicente Archer & Otis Brown III)
JERRY LÉONIDE
js· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed