Joe Turner - The Boss Of The Blues Sings Kansas City Jazz (Mono)
Joe Turner (vocals), Joe Newman (trumpet), Lawrence Brown (trombone), Pete Brown (alto sax), Frank Wess (tenor sax), Pete Johnson (piano), Freddie Green (guitar), Walter Page (bass), Cliff Leeman (drums)
On A3, A5, B1 & B4 Jimmy Nottingham replaces Joe Newman on trumpet & Seldon Powell replaces Frank Wess on tenor sax.
On B3 Joe Turner is accompanied by the rhythm section, Lawrence Brown & Pete Brown
Arrangements by Ernie Wilkins
Written by Joe Turner (A1, A4, A5, B5), Pete Johnson (A1, A2, A5, B5), Moll (A3), Mencher (A3), Walter Donaldson (B1), W. C. Handy (B4)
1 LP, standard sleeve
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Mono
Studio
Record Press : Pallas
Label : Pure Pleasure Records
Original Label : Atlantic
Recorded in New York in 1956 by Len Frank
Produced by Nesuhi Ertegun & Jerry Wexler
Originally released in 1956
Remastering by Ray Staff at Air Mastering, Lyndhurst Hall, London
Reissued in 2015
Tracks :
Side A :
Side B :
Reviews :
"At the time, Boss of the Blues marked a nostalgic return to the jump-blues style that Turner helped pioneer in the '40s. Besides Johnson, Boss featured some of Kansas City's finest ever jazzmen and various members of Count Basie's band, including Joe Newman (trumpet), Pete Brown (alto sax), Lawrence Brown (trombone), Frank Wess (tenor sax) and Freddie Green (guitar). The bawdy "Cherry Red" and the rollicking "Roll 'Em Pete" are my favorite Turner-Johnson collaborations.
Both feature some incredible playing by the piano master. Turner's versions of "I Want a Little Girl," "Low Down Dog," "You're Driving Me Crazy," and "Morning Glories" are definitive. If I had to compile a list of my 10 favorite albums, Boss of the Blues would be there." Ed Kopp, All About Jazz.
« During an era when Big Joe Turner recordings were often surprise hits with rock & roll fans (particularly "Shake, Rattle and Roll"), he occasionally recorded no-nonsense blues-oriented jazz dates too. This reissue album matched Turner for one of the last times with the veteran boogie-woogie pianist Pete Johnson and also includes a variety of top swing players: trumpeter Joe Newman, trombonist Lawrence Brown, altoist Pete Brown, tenor saxophonist Frank Wess, guitarist Freddie Green, bassist Walter Page, and drummer Cliff Leeman. It is not surprising, considering the number of Basie-ites on the date, that the band often sounds like a Count Basie combo. Turner is in top form on remakes of some of his early tunes (including "Cherry Red," "Roll 'Em Pete," and "Wee Baby Blues"), a few traditional blues, and a couple of swing standards. This music should appeal to many listeners. » AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow
Besides helping to invent rock 'n roll with his hit "Shake, Rattle and Roll," Big Joe Turner was one of the most soulful blues shouters of all time. His best albums married the boogie-woogie piano stylings of the great Pete Johnson with a jazzy jumpin' horn section. Boss Of The Blues is arguably Joe's best recording, in part because he sang with particular gusto during these 1956 sessions.
Ratings :
Allmusic : 5 / 5