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As Joel Dorn reminds us in his piece inside
the CD booklet, Illinois Jacquet is
one of the few remaining giants of the tenor saxophone. Not
only that, he is one of few jazz musicians who survive from
an era when jazz was a very different business than it is
today. That makes this album, usually considered one of Jacquet's
great recordings, all the more precious. It's absolutely amazing
that this record was originally released only 13 years ago,
the result of Jacquet's Artist-In-Residence stint at Harvard
University.
Jacquet brought in big band veterans and musicians
he'd worked with for a long time to staff his first big band
in nearly 30 years. Eddie Barefield, who plays first tenor
on the recording, was Jacquet's tap-dance coach in preparing
for a Cab Calloway talent contest. Also present are former
Basie altoist Marshall Royal, bassist Milt Hinton, and trumpeter
Jon Faddis. This group had been playing together for nearly
five years when they went into the studio to record Jacquet's
Got It! The band had played huge engagements in Europe
and in New York City, appearing at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln
Center, and the Village Vanguard, where Atlantic Records genius
Ahmet Ertegun decided to record them for his label. The arrangements
were done by Wild Bill Davis, Eddie Barefield, and Phil Wilson.
"Tickletoe" gets things off in fine
fashion, with Jon Faddis leading the trumpet section and playing
a great high note-filled solo. Jacquet blows as only Jacquet
can, and Rudy Rutherford lends a clarinet solo that raises
the roof. "Smooth Sailing" is an easier swing that
truly recalls the heyday of the second Basie band. The Phil
Wilson chart is the sort that no competent band can miss with,
but in the hands of these veteran musicians it reminds
one of just why big bands were so popular. Another standout
is Eddie Barefield's arrangement of Chick Webb's Stompin'
at the Savoy with solos from Art Baron, Frank Lacy, and
Irv Stokes. Duffy Jackson lends drum breaks and a drive that
would give Chick a run for his money. The sax section shines
in their ensemble passage as well. And then there's Illinois
Jacquet himself, blowing with his usual energy and swinging
like mad, but somehow more controlled and warmer sounding
than in his Jazz At the Philharmonic days.
There isn't a track on the recording that's
less than exciting. The soulful "Three Buckets of Jive"
features Marshall Royal and Joey Cavaseno doing alto solos
that will have you laughing with delight. There's also a Tadd
Dameron arrangement of Jacquet's signature ballad "You
Left Me All Alone". This song never sounds anything but
gorgeous when Jacquet plays it, and it works very well adapted
to the big band setting; I'm really glad he decided to include
it on this date. The recording concludes with Jacquet's own
arrangement of "Blues From Louisiana", a total showcase
for the familiar Jacquet whoops & growls that have become
part of the standard jazz and R&B tenor lexicon.
Whether you, like me, grew up after the big
band era was over, or you were there during its heyday, you
will thoroughly enjoy Jacquet's Got It! If you're new
to big band and swing, you'll definitely "get" what
all the fuss was about when you listen to this recording.
If you have been listening to big bands since you were in
your teens, this record will take you back to that era with
a lot of sweet memories, I guarantee. Whatever your taste
in jazz or thoughts about the music, you will certainly not
be able to deny that Jacquet's Got It, indeed.
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