This comes in Fresh Sound’s “Rare and Obscure Jazz Albums” series and combines two LPs on one CD, remastered in 24-bit with original and new liner notes. The LPs are Johnny Glasel’s Jazz Session (ABC-Paramount ABC 165) and Mel Davis’s Trumpet With A Soul (Epic LN 3268).
Both these trumpeters were classically trained and played with symphony orchestras. Perhaps that accounts for their discipline and reluctance to step out of line as far as their otherwise commendable improvisations are concerned. In both cases these were the first sessions under their own names.
Davis’s tone is a bit florid and he is the more cautious of the two while you can tell that Glasel, whose jazz experience is obviously superior, is having a good time and is less bound by convention. Maybe his palpable echoes of Shavers are unconscious but they are not out of place. Meanwhile, Davis sits up straight with his hair combed.
Barry Galbraith is a key attraction and indeed the guitarists set the sound of the groups and are less confining than a piano would have been. On a couple of his numbers Glasel plays without drums and the results are superior. On the other hand the added echo spoils Ruby My Dear.
Mel Davis has the advantage of good arrangements by Ray Ellis. At the time he recorded he was a member of the Benny Goodman band, and no doubt this influenced his jazz capabilities.
Both men have flawless techniques and the result is a very enjoyable album with solid improvising and no grandstanding.
Discography
(1) [Jazz Session] Taps Miller; I Couldn’t Do Without You; Ruby My Dear; Two For The Show; Harvey Not Walter; Three To Make Ready; Star Eyes; The Party’s Over; (2) [Trumpet With A Soul] Love Your Spell Is Everywhere; Fools Rush In; Jeepers Creepers; Alone Together; My Heart Belongs To Daddy; Roses Of Picardy; You’re An Old Smoothie; I Should Care; Taking A Chance On Love; You’ve Changed; Gone With The Wind; The Wang Wang Blues (62.40)
(1) Collectively: Glasel (t); Dick Garcia, Perry Lopez (g); Whitey Mitchell (b); Osie Johnson (d). NYC, 15-17 November 1956.
(2) Collectively: Davis (t); Phil Bodner (f); Joe Sgro, Barry Galbraith (g); Milt Hinton (b); Osie Johnson (d). NYC, 17-19 September 1956.
Fresh Sounds FSR-CD 1068
