Big 6

Good music. The newer version of Blues March is better IMHO.

Blue Mitchell was a powerful yet lyrical trumpet player with a crystal-clear, bell-like tone. This album, Mitchell's first, recorded in 1958, is an excellent one, and features a top-notch group of New York hard-boppers behind him. One very special thing about the CD is that it contains the first recording of Benny Golson's masterful BLUES MARCH, done 3 months before the famous (and definitive) Art Blakey recording of it with Golson present. This lengthy version (10+ minutes) is taken a bit slower and features impressive Johnny Griffin on tenor sax, who takes a very emotional solo. Also good is BROTHER 'BALL, dedicated to Cannonball Adderley, which has a very attractive theme and excellent Mitchell. So too is the blues piece SIR JOHN, which is a-b-c formatted, and has a terrific Griffin tenor solo. Curtis Fuller is also present on trombone, and the rhythm section of Wynton Kelly, Wilbur Ware, and Philly Joe Jones is as solid as could be. This was an auspicious debut album for Blue and one that will give listening pleasure to all hard-bop fans.

This is blue's first recording for riverside as a leader in 1958 and it doesn't disappoint. Even though his leadership and signature style is evident this is very much a group recording. Very tight,it dominates! What a lineup; blue at trumpet, wynton kelly(p), philly joe jones(d), curtis fuller(tb) and the amazing johnny griffin(ts). It can't get better than this.What you have here is a solid brassy sound with great structure and melody with plenty of room for individual expression. "Blues march" is a solid song which begins in a rather pedestrian way but heats up with some fine solos. Cut #2 "big six" is one of the top jazz songs of all time. Solid efforts by all but it is a scintillating solo by griffin that really sparks the rest and wynton kelly really shines here with a taut solo . Another classic number comes from blue himself a swinging tribute to cannonball adderley who recommended blue to orrin keepnews of riversdide leading to his signing and this classic recording. The song features great cord progressions and spitited play by blue as well as eye opening drum flourishes and another great piano solo. Again griffin plays a sizzling stanza of his own. In fact griffin's style is the perfect fire and ice contrast to the lyrical blue.Each song here is framed by a solid melody with powerful base and drum lines and rich melodic trumpet. This is truly a classic.................socks

Blue Mitchell's first album as a leader, at the tender young age of 28, is a classic. The band really was the "Big Six," with Curtis Fuller on trombone, Johnny Griffin on tenor and the rhythm trio of Wynton Kelly, Wilbur Ware and Philly Joe Jones. The album begins with Benny Golson's "Blues March," and while it is the first recorded version of the tune, it doesn't quite measure up to the definitive version on Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers' "Moanin." Continuing with the march theme is the concluding funeral procession-like "Promenade." In between are some super swinging songs, notably the title track, "Brother 'Ball" (for Cannonball Adderly) and Fuller's "Jamph," that rival any sextet recordings of the period. Blue lets Fuller and Griffin sit out on "There Will Be Another You" and handles things just fine by himself. "Big Six" is the real thing.

This is a Great Debut album by this,another underrated and underappreciated Legend of Jazz. You couldn't ask for a better lineup. As for the music,the other reviewers said it better than I could. This is a great addition to any jazz collection.