MANNY ALBAM -ERNIE WILKINS & THEIR ORCHESTRA The Drum Suite plus Son of Drum Suite
Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 837
The Drum Suite
Manny Albam - Ernie Wilkins & Their Orchestra
Tracks 1 to 6
Collective personnel:
Conte Candoli, Joe Ferrante, Bernie Glow, Joe Newman, Ernie Royal, & Nick Travis ( tpt ) Jim Buffington & John Barrows ( fr. Horn ) Urbie Green, Tommy Mitchell, Fred Ohms & Chauncey Welsh ( tmb ) Hal McKusick, Sam Marowitz, Ray Beckenstein, & Jerry Santino ( alto ) Al Epstein, Al Cohn & Ed Wasserman ( tnr ) Sol Schlinger (( bar ) Marty Wilson ( vibes ) Hank Jones & Eddie Costa ( pno ) Freddie Green ( gtr ) Buddy Jones ( bass ) Don Lamond, Osie Johnson, Ted Sommer & Gus Johnson
( drs )
Recorded 1956
Son of Drum Suite
Al Cohn & his Orchestra
Tracks 7 to 12
Jimmy Maxwell, Nick Travis, Clark Terry & Bernie Glow ( tpt ) Jim Buffington & Jim Barrows ( fr. Horn ) Frank Rehak, Urbie Green & Dick Hixson ( tmb ) Bob Brookmeyer ( vtmb ) Gene Quill & Ed Caine ( alto ) Zoot Sims & Romeo Penque ( tnr ) Sol Schlinger ( bar ) Hank Jones ( pno ) Mundell Lowe ( gtr ) Buddy Clark & George Duvivier ( bass ) Mel Lewis, Don Lamond, Jimmy Cobb, Charlie Persip, Louis Hayes & Gus Johnson ( drs )
Recorded 1960
These two albums ”The Drum Suite” and “Son of Drum Suite” contained on this release were designed as a showcase for drummers but the real stars are the arrangers and some brilliant soloists.
On “The Drum Suite” the orchestra is led by Manny Album and Ernie Wilkins who arranged and composed the whole suite. All four drummers are incorporated into the arrangements and there are no long drum solos but they are at the centre of the arrangements.
On the First Movement-Dancers on Drums there is a vibrant solo by Hal McKusick on alto backed by by all four drummers in turn.
The interplay between the soloists and the four drummers on the Second Movement is skilfully arranged so the momentum is maintained but leaves enough space for all participants to say something meaningful.
The Fourth Movement is a feature for the trumpet section as a team and as soloists and all involved give sparkling performances.
There is some interesting interplay between the trumpets of Joe Newman and Conte Candoli with the cymbal work of the drummers on the Fifth Movement.
It is the arrangements of Manny Album and Ernie Wilkins that give this album the extra edge rather than the drums alone.
On “Son of Drum Suite” differs from the original recording simply because the movements are more melodic but you would expe ct that as they are written by Al Cohn. The main soloists are Gene Quill, Zoot Sims, Clark Terry and Bob Brookmeyer, all their solos are of a high standard.
The Second Movement is interesting as the drummers use brushes which seems to be something of a dying art on present recordings, the solos by Gene Quill and Zoot Sims are outstanding.
Don’t be put off by the two titles on the album as there is much than drums involved, the arrangements on both titles are a cut above the normal and the solos are of a high quality but if you are a drum freak this is the one you’ve been waiting for.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 837
The Drum Suite
Manny Albam - Ernie Wilkins & Their Orchestra
Tracks 1 to 6
Collective personnel:
Conte Candoli, Joe Ferrante, Bernie Glow, Joe Newman, Ernie Royal, & Nick Travis ( tpt ) Jim Buffington & John Barrows ( fr. Horn ) Urbie Green, Tommy Mitchell, Fred Ohms & Chauncey Welsh ( tmb ) Hal McKusick, Sam Marowitz, Ray Beckenstein, & Jerry Santino ( alto ) Al Epstein, Al Cohn & Ed Wasserman ( tnr ) Sol Schlinger (( bar ) Marty Wilson ( vibes ) Hank Jones & Eddie Costa ( pno ) Freddie Green ( gtr ) Buddy Jones ( bass ) Don Lamond, Osie Johnson, Ted Sommer & Gus Johnson
( drs )
Recorded 1956
Son of Drum Suite
Al Cohn & his Orchestra
Tracks 7 to 12
Jimmy Maxwell, Nick Travis, Clark Terry & Bernie Glow ( tpt ) Jim Buffington & Jim Barrows ( fr. Horn ) Frank Rehak, Urbie Green & Dick Hixson ( tmb ) Bob Brookmeyer ( vtmb ) Gene Quill & Ed Caine ( alto ) Zoot Sims & Romeo Penque ( tnr ) Sol Schlinger ( bar ) Hank Jones ( pno ) Mundell Lowe ( gtr ) Buddy Clark & George Duvivier ( bass ) Mel Lewis, Don Lamond, Jimmy Cobb, Charlie Persip, Louis Hayes & Gus Johnson ( drs )
Recorded 1960
These two albums ”The Drum Suite” and “Son of Drum Suite” contained on this release were designed as a showcase for drummers but the real stars are the arrangers and some brilliant soloists.
On “The Drum Suite” the orchestra is led by Manny Album and Ernie Wilkins who arranged and composed the whole suite. All four drummers are incorporated into the arrangements and there are no long drum solos but they are at the centre of the arrangements.
On the First Movement-Dancers on Drums there is a vibrant solo by Hal McKusick on alto backed by by all four drummers in turn.
The interplay between the soloists and the four drummers on the Second Movement is skilfully arranged so the momentum is maintained but leaves enough space for all participants to say something meaningful.
The Fourth Movement is a feature for the trumpet section as a team and as soloists and all involved give sparkling performances.
There is some interesting interplay between the trumpets of Joe Newman and Conte Candoli with the cymbal work of the drummers on the Fifth Movement.
It is the arrangements of Manny Album and Ernie Wilkins that give this album the extra edge rather than the drums alone.
On “Son of Drum Suite” differs from the original recording simply because the movements are more melodic but you would expe ct that as they are written by Al Cohn. The main soloists are Gene Quill, Zoot Sims, Clark Terry and Bob Brookmeyer, all their solos are of a high standard.
The Second Movement is interesting as the drummers use brushes which seems to be something of a dying art on present recordings, the solos by Gene Quill and Zoot Sims are outstanding.
Don’t be put off by the two titles on the album as there is much than drums involved, the arrangements on both titles are a cut above the normal and the solos are of a high quality but if you are a drum freak this is the one you’ve been waiting for.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
