Gentle Jug Volume 2

by Gene Ammons

Product Description:

Personnel: Gene Ammons (tenor saxophone); Etta Jones (vocals); Oliver Nelson (alto saxophone); Red Holloway, George Barrow (tenor saxophone); Bob ashton (baritone saxophone); Clark Terry, Hobart Dotson (trumpet); Richard Wyands, Mal Waldron, Patti Bown, Tony Flanagan, Junior Mance (piano); Roland Hanna (electric piano); Wendell Marshall, George Duvivier, Doug Watkins, Buster Williams (bass); Ed Thigpen, Walter Perkins, Art Taylor, Bill English, Frankie Jones (drums); Ray Barretto, Candido (congas).

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey between 1960 and 1971. Includes liner notes by Bob Porter.

All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.

GENTLE JUG VOLUME 2 is a companion to THE GENE AMMONS STORY: GENTLE JUG. Where that collection combined pieces from two early '60s albums by the tenor saxophonist, this second volume surveys his ballad work throughout the '60s and up through 1971. Ammons was one of the preeminent ballad players of his day. With his emotive phrasing and rich tone, he could caress a slow melody without a bit of cliche or schmaltz.

These dozen tracks ooze late night romanticism with honesty and invention. Ammons is equally at home with a piano trio (Mal Waldron is on hand for the first four numbers; Patti Brown, Junior Mance, or Tommy Flanagan thereafter) or within larger arrangements and orchestrations. The set closes with an Oliver Nelson arrangement of "Love I've Found You." This is gorgeous music-timeless and essential.