The Gene Ammons Story

Product Description:

2 LP's on 1 CD: NICE AN' COOL (1961)/THE SOULFUL MOOD OF GENE AMMONS (1962).

Producer: Esmond Edwards.

Compilation producer: Bob Porter.

Includes liner notes by Bob Porter.

Digitally remastered by Phil De Lancie (1992, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California).

NICE AN' COOL:

Personnel: Gene Ammons (tenor saxophone); Richard Wyands (piano); Doug Watkins (bass); J.C. Heard (drums).

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on January 26, 1961. Originally released on Prestige/Moodsville (18).

THE SOULFUL MOOD OF GENE AMMONS:

Personnel: Gene Ammons (tenor saxophone); Patti Bown (piano); George Duvivier (bass); Ed Shaughnessy (drums).

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on April 14, 1962. Originally released on Moodsville (28).

2 LPs on 1 CD: NICE AN' COOL (1961)/THE SOULFUL MOOD OF GENE AMMONS (1962).

Producer: Esmond Edwards.

Compilation producer: Bob Porter.

Includes liner notes by Bob Porter.

Digitally remastered by Phil De Lancie (1992, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California).

NICE AN' COOL:

Personnel: Gene Ammons (tenor saxophone); Richard Wyands (piano); Doug Watkins (bass); J.C. Heard (drums).

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on January 26, 1961. Originally released on Prestige/Moodsville (18).

THE SOULFUL MOOD OF GENE AMMONS:

Personnel: Gene Ammons (tenor saxophone); Patti Bown (piano); George Duvivier (bass); Ed Shaughnessy (drums).

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on April 14, 1962. Originally released on Moodsville (28).

This is another volume in THE GENE AMMONS STORY series (along with the equally essential THE 78 ERA and THE ORGAN COMBOS). Ammons was one of the preeminent tenor saxophone ballad players of his day. With his emotive phrasing and rich tone he could caress a slow melody with no hint of cliche or schmaltz. His every breath oozed romantic honesty, heartbreak, longing, and even simple satisfaction.

These 16 tunes were originally released on the albums NICE AN' COOL and THE SOULFUL MOOD OF GENE AMMONS. Here, two different piano trios back Ammons, and, while he delighted in playing off other horns, it's wonderful to hear his lone voice soaring over the supple rhythm sections. Largely comprised of standards, on GENTLE JUG Ammons makes familiar tunes such as "Till There Was You" and "Someone to Watch Over Me," sound like he was destined to play them.

This is another volume in THE GENE AMMONS STORY series (along with the equally essential THE 78 ERA and THE ORGAN COMBOS). Ammons was one of the preeminent tenor saxophone ballad players of his day. With his emotive phrasing and rich tone he could caress a slow melody with no hint of cliche or schmaltz. His every breath oozed romantic honesty, heartbreak, longing, and even simple satisfaction.

These 16 tunes were originally released on the albums NICE AN' COOL and THE SOULFUL MOOD OF GENE AMMONS. Here, two different piano trios back Ammons, and, while he delighted in playing off other horns, it's wonderful to hear his lone voice soaring over the supple rhythm sections. Largely comprised of standards, on GENTLE JUG Ammons makes familiar tunes such as "Till There Was You" and "Someone to Watch Over Me," sound like he was destined to play them.