Big City Sounds is an album by The Jazztet, led by trumpeter Art Farmer and saxophonist Benny Golson, featuring performances recorded in 1960 and originally released on the Argo label.[1]

Big City Sounds
Studio album by
Released1960
RecordedSeptember 16, 19 & 20, 1960
StudioNola's Penthouse, New York City
GenreJazz
Length39:56
LabelArgo
LP 672
ProducerKay Norton
Art Farmer chronology
Meet the Jazztet
(1960)
Big City Sounds
(1960)
Art
(1960)
Benny Golson chronology
Meet the Jazztet
(1960)
Big City Sounds
(1960)
Take a Number from 1 to 10
(1960)

Music

edit

"The Cool One" is a medium tempo piece by Golson that was intended to be a commercial success, as "Killer Joe" had been on the Jazztet's previous album, Meet the Jazztet.[2]: 4–5  "Blues on Down" is also by Golson, and was originally performed for his album The Modern Touch.[2]: 5  Golson added 16 written bars to the version of "Hi-Fly" recorded for Big City Sounds, which is faster than usual.[2]: 5  Farmer is the main feature on the jazz standard "My Funny Valentine".[2]: 5  "Wonder Why" has "a 36-bar, AABA'C form".[2]: 5  The Latin "Con Alma" also contains material added by Golson.[2]: 6  "Lament" is a feature for trombonist Tom McIntosh, while "Bean Bag" features pianist Cedar Walton.[2]: 6  The final track, "Five Spot After Dark", is a blues written by Golson when playing at New York's Five Spot.[2]: 6 

Reception

edit

The Allmusic review awarded the album 3 stars.[3]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic     [3]

Track listing

edit

All compositions by Benny Golson except as indicated

  1. "The Cool One" – 3:02
  2. "Blues on Down" – 6:03
  3. "Hi-Fly" (Randy Weston) – 5:50
  4. "My Funny Valentine" (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) – 4:33
  5. "Wonder Why" (Sammy Cahn) – 5:54
  6. "Con Alma" (Dizzy Gillespie) – 5:00
  7. "Lament" (J. J. Johnson) – 3:31
  8. "Bean Bag" – 4:53
  9. "Five Spot After Dark" – 3:18

Personnel

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Art Farmer discography, accessed June 15, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Blumenthal, Bob (2004) In The Complete Argo/Mercury Art Farmer/Benny Golson/Jazztet Sessions [CD liner notes]. Mosaic.
  3. ^ a b Allmusic review, accessed July 2, 2012.