JOE BUSHKIN QUARTET - Live At The Embers 1952
Dot Time Records DT 8003
Joe Bushkin ( pno ) Buck Clayton ( tpt ) Milt Hinton ( bass ) Jo Jones (drs)
Recorded at the Embers, New York City, early 1952
Joe Bushkin hadd a long and varied career working as a swing and Dixieland pianist he also worked in cabaret and as a middle of the road pianist. Joe Bushkin was also a gifted composer his best known composition was probably “Oh Look at me Now” which became a bit hit for Frank Sinatra with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.
Buck Clayton was one of the great swing trumpet player who doesnot play on all the tracks but his contribution is more than welcome because he maintains such a high standard of musicianship.
The group had a two week engagement at the “Embers” but were so well received that they were held over by the owner for sixteen weeks. This CD is a snapshot of one night in 1952 of how well the group performed.
The album opens with a lightly swing version of Gershwin’s “But Not For Me” with fine support from the bass and drums and the trak is rounded out by a polished solo by Buck Clayton.
There is a Ballad Medley lasting just under nine minutes which consists of Easy Living /I’ve Got The World On A String / If You Were Mine / Body and Soul this is music to relax to but not too much in case you miss something, Buck Clayton is absent until the final number in the medley but the wait is worth it.
The album is rounded out by another medley which closes with a hard swinging version of “California Here I Come” which includes a bass and drum solo and a final flourish by Buck Clayton, could this be version which inspired Bill Evans?
This is swing piano playing at it’s best with the addition of some great trumpet by Buck Clayton and admirable support from Milt Hinton and Jo Jones. For a live recording from a club the audience are reasonably quite. Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Dot Time Records DT 8003
Joe Bushkin ( pno ) Buck Clayton ( tpt ) Milt Hinton ( bass ) Jo Jones (drs)
Recorded at the Embers, New York City, early 1952
Joe Bushkin hadd a long and varied career working as a swing and Dixieland pianist he also worked in cabaret and as a middle of the road pianist. Joe Bushkin was also a gifted composer his best known composition was probably “Oh Look at me Now” which became a bit hit for Frank Sinatra with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.
Buck Clayton was one of the great swing trumpet player who doesnot play on all the tracks but his contribution is more than welcome because he maintains such a high standard of musicianship.
The group had a two week engagement at the “Embers” but were so well received that they were held over by the owner for sixteen weeks. This CD is a snapshot of one night in 1952 of how well the group performed.
The album opens with a lightly swing version of Gershwin’s “But Not For Me” with fine support from the bass and drums and the trak is rounded out by a polished solo by Buck Clayton.
There is a Ballad Medley lasting just under nine minutes which consists of Easy Living /I’ve Got The World On A String / If You Were Mine / Body and Soul this is music to relax to but not too much in case you miss something, Buck Clayton is absent until the final number in the medley but the wait is worth it.
The album is rounded out by another medley which closes with a hard swinging version of “California Here I Come” which includes a bass and drum solo and a final flourish by Buck Clayton, could this be version which inspired Bill Evans?
This is swing piano playing at it’s best with the addition of some great trumpet by Buck Clayton and admirable support from Milt Hinton and Jo Jones. For a live recording from a club the audience are reasonably quite. Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
