Showcase

The burner

This is a very nice sampler of Philly Joe Jones work. You get to hear several of the things he was well known for. It is not a drum centric collection, nor should it be. No real solos but a lot of nice work behind some great musicians. Also just a really good sample of some good bebop. Check it out, especially if you're a drummer.

4 stars

I rated this album with five stars because the sound quality is superb and the music is uniformly excellent on each track. It does not stand out as Philly Joe's best work, but it is an example of his playing circa the late 50s/early 60s (this was recorded in 1959.)The music was on the cusp of change too, soon to be influenced by iconic albums that were released in 1959, so this is not an example of Philly Joe's maturity as a musician during this period, but also a snapshot of music that would seen start changing.Since there are sound samples on this page I recommend that you let those guide you more than my review because there is a lot of information packed into short snippets of sound. I have my favorite tracks, but that is so subject as to be meaningless when samples are provided.Background information: this was recorded for Riverside on November 17 & 18, 1959 and released the same year. Tracks 1, 4 and 6 though 8 were recorded in NYC on November 17 by Philly Joe on drums accompanied by Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Julian Priester on trombone, Bill Barron on tenor sax, Pepper Adams on baritone sax, Charles (Dolo) Coker on piano and Jimmy Garrison on bass. The remaining tracks were recorded the next day with the following personnel changes: Sonny Clark is on piano and Pepper Adams is not present.One final note: this album is also included in a value-priced set that contains five other Philly Joe Jones albums:  6 Classic Albums . You may want to check that out before making a final purchase decision.

This rollicking sequel of sorts to the Blues for Dracula set is actually better than that more (in)famous album, and it has a front line that seems to click a little tighter: baritonist Pepper Adams and trumpeter Blue Mitchell were born to this style of hard bop and the lesser-know tenor Bill Barron has a sound that blends far better than Johnny Griffin's spikier style did. Philly Joe himself is in that sloppy good form that he patented, swinging and in-the-pocket, but also seemingly ready to knock over his drum kit in places. So why isn't this record, seemingly so much fun, also much better known? I'll wager that it's all about timing: by 1960, everybody was smitten with the modal thing that Miles and Trane were working out. It was the time of Dolphy and Booker Little, and this album sounds like a throwback to the straightahead hard bop that Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers were puttin down back in 1957. At the time, this simply may have sounded a tad unfashionable. Divorced of such concerns, however, Showcase is a joyful kick-in-the-pants.

I must be honest-there aren't any of this Jazz Giants albums i dislike.-although i do have my favorites. I've built my collection from the point-is Philly J.J. the Drummer on it? Then I just take off from there,and follow those individuals I like ...You get it. This album is a must-for all drummers,would be-or thought we were,or if you just want a real good album to turn up. Everyone shines on this Be-Bop classic. 'Nuff said!

2 1/2 stars - Since I am not going to buy it after hearing a bunch of complete tracks on utube I must be honest. For me the tracks and the soloing are too short and Philly Joe is not reluctant to solo. It's a septet session Blue Mitchell, Bill Barron, Pepper Adams, Julian Priester and sometimes they all solo along with the pianist and Philly Joe on a 4 minute track. Longer tracks and soloing would have made it better.

great team

奥行きのある素晴らしい録音ですよね。ドラムの音が凄い大きいのに、ちゃんとフロントの管の列の後ろに聞こえるし全然うるさく無いです。最近リバーサイドの三管以上入っている音源何枚か買ってますけど、つくづく良い録音だなと思います。管も決してうるさく響かない!上品なんですよね。初めて三管JMの「キャラバン」聴いて正直あっさり過ぎて物足りないと感じたんですね、まあ年を取ったつうか… ですねぇ。(笑)フィリー・ジョーはワタシも大好きなんですが、ブレーキ親分との比較で言えば、フィリー・ジョーの魅力は、いつドカンと来るのか解らんドキドキ感でしょうかね… ブレーキ親分は吉本興業なみの「お約束の安心感」でしょうか?(笑) 来ると解ってて「イェーイ!」みたいな。ジャイアント馬場さんの十六文キックですよ、ドラムソロでは必ず「さすが親分」と感心しなくてはJMのファンは務まりません。(とほほの助)