Clark Terry/Bob Wilber: Blowin' The Blues Away
Author: Alyn Shipton
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Musicians: |
Dick Wellstood (p) |
Label: |
Phono |
Magazine Review Date: |
February/2017 |
Catalogue Number: |
870257 |
RecordDate: |
1960 and 1965 |
The original album of this title was a single LP of Clark and Bob with Wilber's old sidekick Dick Wellstood on piano. But this reissue combines it with a vastly superior session with the same frontline partners, accompanied by the Ellington rhythm section (either with Duke or Strays on piano and Dave Bailey depping for Sam Woodyard). The playing is all quite neat and tidy on the original album, but on the nine bonus tracks, especially with Duke on piano on the uptempo ‘Smada’, the playing positively jumps out of the speakers, Clark on roaring form on muted and open trumpet and Bob catching a lot of the intensity and tone of Johnny Hodges. It's no less beguiling with Strayhorn meandering through a long intro towards a sensitive reading of ‘Passion Flower’ with Wilber outstanding on clarinet. By adding Willie Ruff on french horn, the band acquires greater tonal variety, particularly on a brisk but effective version of ‘Chelsea Bridge’. Overall, an average album raised to something more exceptional by the additional material.

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