Shirley Scott
BLUE SEVEN
with Oliver Nelson and Joe Newman
1961 Prestige PR 7376
OJC Reissue OJCCD 1050-2, 2001
1. Blue Seven
2. How Sweet
3. Don’t Worry ‘Bout It Baby, Here I Am
4. Nancy (With The Laughing Face)
5. Wagon Wheels
6. Give Me The Simple Life
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on August 22, 1961.
Joe Newman (tp) Oliver Nelson (ts) Shirley Scott (org) George Tucker (b) Roy Brooks (d)
So I was listening to one of James Brown’s early instrumental records from the 60s a few days ago, and it left me wanting to listen to somebody who could actually play the organ. I ended up reaching for this record, a mellow little number from Shirley Scott. Usually she played with a leaner ensemble, and this has a nice, fleshed-out sound to it with warm trumpet and sax work from Joe Newman and Oliver Nelson. Newman’s long muted trumpet solo on Wagon Wheels is an excellent companion on a rainy day like I am having today. The title track, a Sonny Rollins tune, sets the relaxed blues tone for the rest of the set. I like Roy Brooks but on this session his touch seems a little indelicate at times: even his hi-hat somehow sounds “heavy” and plodding, even on the ballad Nancy (With The Laughing Face). On this tune Shirley’s organ sounds so wonderful I feel like I am sitting right next to it watching the tubes glow; it’s redundant to compliment Van Gelder on his recording prowess, but there it is.
A short and sweet blog post for a short and sweet album.
