The EmArcy Master Takes, Vol. 2: The Singers Sessions in Bloomington, MN

The 2012
Clifford Brown
three-disc anthology
The EmArcy Master Takes, Vol. 2: The Singers Sessions
collects all of the tracks
Brown
recorded with vocalists
Dinah Washington
,
Sarah Vaughan
, and
Helen Merrill
during one magical five-month period in 1954. All of these sessions are now considered classic recordings and landmarks in the careers of each singer, as well as legendary trumpeter
. Coming off a four-year ascent that found him moving from working as a sideman with the R&B band
the Blue Flames
in 1951, to playing as a member of the
Lionel Hampton
band in 1953, to co-leading his innovative quartet with drummer
Max Roach
in 1954,
was a bona fide star by the mid-'50s and considered by many, including trumpeter
Dizzy Gillespie
, to be the best trumpeter of his generation. Tragically,
's career was cut short when he died in a car accident in 1956. Thankfully,
was well recorded before his death, and these sessions display both his adept gift for virtuosic improvisation and empathetic ear for subtle, tender accompaniment of vocalists. Having already begun developing a strong group aesthetic -- later showcased on its own
EmArcy
recordings in 1954 -- that mixed thoughtful arrangements with adventurous improvisation, the
and
Roach
band was a superb choice for showcasing singers where arrangements and strong dynamic shifts are central to a good performance. Backing the vocalists here are not just the
/
band with tenor saxophonist
Harold Land
and pianists
Richie Powell
Junior Mance
, but also lineups including such stellar musicians as tenor saxophonist
Paul Quinichette
, flutist
Herbie Mann
, drummer
Roy Haynes
, bassists
Milt Hinton
Oscar Pettiford
, and, as on the
Merrill
sessions, arrangements by
Quincy Jones
. Featuring a hardbound book with photos of the original front and back album covers, as well as new liner notes from
Down Beat
magazine's
Aaron Cohen
The Singers Sessions
is essential listening for both
fans and jazz vocal fans alike. ~ Matt Collar