Ease It is a jazz album credited to Rocky Boyd's Quintet, featuring Kenny Dorham on trumpet.[1] It is the only known recording by the saxophonist, and was first released by Jazztime Records (JTL 001). It was also released by Muse Records as Ease It! (MR 5053). In 1989, Black Lion released an edition on CD titled West 42nd Street, credited to Kenny Dorham, which comprised all the takes from the session.

Ease It
Studio album by
Released1961
RecordedMarch 13, 1961
StudioBell Sound (New York City)
GenreJazz
Length39:42 (original LP)
LabelJazztime Records
(JTL 001)
Black Lion
(BLCD 760119)
ProducerFred Norsworthy
Kenny Dorham chronology
Whistle Stop
(1961)
Ease It
(1961)
Inta Somethin'
(1961)
Alternative cover
Black Lions West 42nd Street

Reception

edit
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [2]
DownBeat     [3]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide     [4]

The contemporaneous DownBeat reviewer commented on a strong John Coltrane influence on Boyd, but stated that little was expressed emotionally, and concluded that, "On the whole, this is a depressing and disappointing date".[3]

Track listing

edit

Ease It (1961) (1974 Muse)

  1. "Avars" (Boyd) – 7:42
  2. "Stella by Starlight" (Young, Washington) – 5:05
  3. "Why Not?" (LaRoca) – 7:26
  4. "Ease It!" (Chambers) – 10:35
  5. "Samba De Orfeu" (Luiz Bonfá) – 4:31
  6. "West 42nd Street" (Hardin) – 4:23

West 42nd Street (1989)

  1. "Avars" [Take 3] – 7:42
  2. "Stella by Starlight" [Take 1] – 5:05
  3. "Stella by Starlight" [Take 2] – 5:17
  4. "Why Not?" [Take 1] – 7:26
  5. "Why Not?" [Take 2] – 9:17
  6. "Ease It!" [Take 1] – 10:35
  7. "Samba De Orfeu" [Take 5] – 4:31
  8. "Samba De Orfeu" [Take 6] – 4:29
  9. "West 42nd Street" [Take 7] – 3:51
  10. "West 42nd Street" [Take 8] – 4:23

Personnel

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Ease It at Jazzdisco
  2. ^ Ease It at AllMusic
  3. ^ a b DeMichael, Don (August 17, 1961). "Rocky Boyd: Ease It". DownBeat. Vol. 28, no. 17. p. 28.
  4. ^ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 64. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.