7 Classic Albums

This is another fine collection of albums by an overlooked artist. Thad Jones (brother of drummer Elvin and pianist Hank) recorded a number of good/fine albums in the 1950's. The seven albums here are from the years 1954-1959. The sound is crisp and clean. As usual, there's no notes in the booklet-just a listing of who plays on what-which is helpful. I already own a couple of these albums, but the chance to have Jones' (arguably) best work all in one set was to good to pass up, especially for the money. The albums range from 3 to 4 "stars", but every album has some gems of the era.Jones never was really thought of as a soloist. His claim to fame is as an arranger and player in larger groups. His trumpet tone was bright and lively, yet he could blow on a ballad with sensitivity. Plus, his groups were always filled with great players who recognized his talent. Picking out highlights is pretty much a waste of time. You'll either hear Jones' bright, sensitive trumpet style, or you'll think, 'so what?'.But listen to "The Fabulous Thad Jones" (1954), and I think you'll hear what I'm talking about. And just as impressive is the band-Jones, Charles Mingus-bass, Frank Wess-tenor sax/flute, Hank Jones or John Dennis-piano, and Kenny Clark or Max Roach-drums. Listen to tunes like "Get Out of Town" (with a good Mingus bass solo and some sparkling piano from Dennis), "One More" (with a hot Jones solo), "I Can't Get Started", or "I'll Remember April" for examples of Jones' ability to shape the music to the band.Another fines set is "Mad Thad" (1957), with "Whisper Not", "Bird Song", or the title track as standouts. This album is about evenly split between two different groups. Included are Frank Foster-tenor sax, Quincy Jones-arranger, Frank Wess-tenor sax/flute, Tommy Flanagan-piano, Elvin Jones-drums, and several other players of equal abilities. But splitting the tunes up doesn't effect the overall sound and feel of the album as a whole."After Hours" (1957), features Jones, Wess, Mal Waldron-piano, Kenny Burrell-guitar, Art Taylor-drums, and Paul Chambers-bass. The subtly of Jones' small groups is out front here. Everyone plays with assurance and an inventiveness that only comes from very fine players. Listen to "Steamin'", "Blue Jelly", and "Empty Street", three of the four tunes on the album, for some great period jazz.But all the albums here are worth having in your library. The players, the tunes, and the arrangements are top drawer. These albums are full of intelligent, intuitive, sensitive playing not only by Thad Jones, but his various groups. Jones might not be as fiery or inventive a player as some, but his music is certainly of high caliber. Pick any album here, sit down and listen, and you too will begin to hear what Thad Jones had (has) to offer.

I don't know if the English company taking the Blue Note and OJC compact discs or vinyl records. I have all of the original discs on the original labels--Prestige and Blue Note. I have them packed away. I wish I could compare the sound of the Blue Notes with these. Some day I will.The sound of the discs on the "Seven Classic Album" is really quite good. It sounds like they used compact discs--no pops or clicks. European copyrights now allow these Spanish and English "pirate" companies take these recordings and publish them without paying any royalties. it is not illegal and they do make recordings that are otherwise unavailable for a reasonable price or perhaps at all.The point of this review is that most of the Blue Note records are out of print right now. They might be able to be purchased as very expensive Japanese reissues of Blue Note. The cost of this set is less than buying one Blue Note disc at full price and the sound is really quite good.I am always for purchasing the original discs, i.e. purchasing the music on discs from the original label. I figure that those discs are made from the original tapes. It can make a huge difference in sound. Some of the Proper Box recordings have been so over filtered that you cannot hear the crisp, treble sound of a cymbal. The best example of this is the Proper Box set devoted to Fats Navarro versus the Savoy and Blue Note recordings. The Savoy and Blue Note recordings sound so much better than the Proper Box.Anyway, I have to say that Thad Jones was a very special jazz musician. He was a good soloist, but it is really his writing and interpretation that makes him so great. He is also very clever in giving the songs he has written great names. Some of them are very descriptive. Jones uses lots of musicians from the Count Basie band. They are always very competent and play beautifully. He also uses lots of musicians from Detroit.I really love this set. If you can afford to get the original discs, then you ought to. If not, get this set. You will never regret it.

Everything was fine

Great price for so much great Thad Jones small group sessions!

Buyer beware, these Real Gone Jazz releases are chock full of errors, poor transfers (sometimes), and even digital clipping! For instance, on the Thad Jones set the track "Chazzanova" was omitted from the album "The Fabulous Thad Jones" on Disc 1.

super

Uhhhh, excuse me???????? You will listen to him and either like him or say "so what?????" Huh???? "He was "never as inventive or as fiery a player as others" What??? Huh????? What Thad Jones are you listening to? This is Thad Jones, one third of the brilliant Jones Brothers, Hank and Elvin!!!!!! So what!!!! ????? It never ceases to amaze me how some Caucasians are so arrogant in their critiques of these brilliant African-American artists and this art form that was created by them. Always trying to denigrate or downplay the greatness of these virtuosos as if you are so knowledgeable of this art when the opposite is true. Many are unable to understand this art because they lack the cultural sensitivity and pureness of heart to feel or appreciate it because they are so riddled with jealousy and bigotry.Thad Jones was not only a brilliant arranger/composer and orchestrator, his Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orch. was phenomenal. His brilliant solos and contributions to the Basie band as well are legendary. His unparalleled sensitivity to write and score for singers as well as instrumentalists was highly sort after, not to mention his magnificent compositional skills. He played with not only fire, but subtlety and the greatest of nuancebecause he was a master of dynamics. The brilliance and bigness of his tone were stunning and emulated and respected by all of his trumpet playing contemporaries. Thad Jones was indeed one of the greatest trumpet players and complete musicians ever.

Unfortunately Thad Jones' weird ideas permeate these LPs making for disjointed solos and themes causing annoyance and boredom in the listener. Too clever by half.

En ce temps là, Mingus disait à ses disciples " swinguez tous les uns avec les autres "...ou quelque chose d'approchant. Toujours est-il que Thad Jones, sans être un novateur comme Clifford Brown, nous réjouit de son propre jeu avec l'opportunité de se mettre plein les zeaureilles de trompinette euphorisante, accompagné par Mingus,Chambers,Heath(bass), HankJones,Flanagan,Waldron(piano) plus AlGrey,FrankWest,kennyBurell,ElvinJones,MaxRoach ( en vrac sax,gratte et drums) je les cite pas tous. Après que dire: cette collection seven ou height albums est faite pour les radins comme bibi.Pourquoi se priver ?

私は個別に持っているのに、買ってしまいました＾＾それだけ価値があるセットです。収録アルバムは1.The Fabulous Thad Jones2.Motor City Scene3.The Magnificent Thad Jones4.The Magnificent Thad Jones Vol.35.Detroit-New York Junction6.After Hours7.Mad Thadなお以前はプラスティックBOXでしたが、紙ボックスに変わっています。紙のほうが扱い易く、収納にも便利なようでこの変更は改良です。