Gene Ammons – Boss Tenor (1960) [Analogue Productions 2017] [SACD / Analogue Productions – CPRJ 7180 SA]

Title: Gene Ammons – Boss Tenor (1960) [Analogue Productions 2017]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

Tenor sax great Gene Ammons was called The Boss years before Bruce Springsteen came along. This album from 1960 features Ammons as the only horn player, accompanied by a quartet including the incomparable Tommy Flanagan on piano and Art Taylor on drums. Not to be confused with Ammons’ 1961 album Boss Tenors which featured guest Sonny Stitt.

The great tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons was of the generation of swing-era players that easily adapted to bop. But though he was a modernist, Ammons maintained that breathy, old-school romantic approach to the tenor. Boss Tenor, a quintet session from 1960, is one of Ammons’ very best albums. Ray Barretto’s congas subtly add a bit of Latin spice, but otherwise this is a collection of standards rendered with a gorgeous late-night bluesy feel. Accompaniment by Tommy Flanagan, one of the best mainstream pianists ever, certainly doesn’t hurt, either. A gem.

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Tracklist:

01. Hittin’ The Jug
02. Close Your Eyes
03. My Romance
04. Canadian Sunset
05. Blue Ammons
06. Confirmation
07. Savoy

Personnel:

Gene Ammons – tenor saxophone
Tommy Flanagan – piano
Doug Watkins – bass
Art Taylor – drums
Ray Barretto – congas

Note:

Recorded on June 16, 1960 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
Mastered for this SACD by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio.

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