1. Something Special
2. Deep in a Dream
3. Melody for C
4. Eric Walks
5. Voodoo
6. Midnight Mambo
7. Zellmar's Delight
8. Melody for C (alternate take)
Sonny Clark - Piano
Tommy Turrentine - Trumpet
Butch Warren - Bass
Billy Higgins - Drums
Charlie Rouse - Tenor sax (tracks 1, 3-8)
Ike Quebec - Tenor sax (track 2)
Sonny Clark has never been
a very well-known name among jazz fans, although
he has always had his supporters and some
people almost idolised him. Bill Evans wrote
NYC's No Lark as an anagrammed tribute
to the pianist, and a group of musicians led
by Wayne Horvitz and John Zorn formed the
Sonny Clark Memorial Quartet in the 1980s
to perform Sonny's compositions.
Sonny Clark's comparatively
short career probably accounts for his absence
from the front rank of famous jazz pianists.
Drugs and alcohol shortened his life to less
than 32 years (1931-1963). His playing career
lasted for barely a dozen years, although
during that time he played and/or recorded
with such stars as Wardell Gray, Buddy De
Franco, Dinah Washington and Sonny Rollins.
And his style is difficult
to categorise. Some people have compared him
to Bud Powell, but Sonny had a smoother touch
- although he shared Powell's emphasis on
the right hand. In fact one of the pleasures
of this 1961 album is Clark's delicate touch
on the keyboard. One of the album's highlights
is Deep in a Dream - the only tune
not written by Sonny or other members of the
group. It displays not only Sonny's finesse
at the piano but also the enticing, breathy
tone of tenorist Ike Quebec, who replaces
Charlie Rouse for this one track. It is a
mystery why The Penguin Guide to Jazz
refers to "choruses of beautiful piano following
one another without the slightest hint of
strain", since Sonny Clark plays the tune,
discreetly decorating the melody, after which
Ike Quebec takes the lion's share of the second
of two-and-a half choruses.
Charlie Rouse has an entirely
different sound on tenor sax from Ike Quebec
-- with a harder edge - but he supplies some
well-constructed solos, as does Stanley Turrentine's
elder brother, Tommy. Sonny Clark's own compositions
are mostly in bebop style, with a strong blues
influence. But, whether soloing or accompanying,
it is the discretion in his choice of notes
that may strike the listener as the distinguishing
feature of his playing.
Incidentally, this album
- remastered by Rudy Van Gelder - is more
generous than some Blue Note reissues, clocking
in at more than 55 minutes of worthwhile music.
Tony Augarde
CD Reviews
Blue Note 50999 2 15366 2 5
