Very Saxy Eddie Lockjaw Davis

• 1Very Saxy08:19
• 2Lester Leaps In06:16
• 3Fourmost05:23
• 4Foot Pattin'08:53
• 5Light And Lovely09:56
• Total Runtime38:47

Info for Very Saxy

During the two-year existence of their 'Tough Tenors' quintet, Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis (a Prestige artist) and Johnny Griffin (under contract to Riverside / Jazzland) satisfied their contractual obligations by recording five albums for each company. This was the pair's first for Prestige, and the first of a four-album series taped over the course of an extremely productive evening at the legendary Minton's Playhouse in Harlem. The album, also known as The Breakfast Show in an earlier reissue, gives the rhythm section several opportunities to shine, with Ben Riley's drums dominant on 'Woody'n You,' 'Bingo Domingo' featuring Larry Gales's bass, and Junior Mance's piano solo almost stealing the show on 'Light and Lovely.' It is the leaders, though, who consistently deliver with their complimentary brand of intensity, which is heard at the boil throughout and reaches a particular peak when they exchange ideas on 'Straight, No Chaser.'

„Tenor saxophonist Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis and his quartet (which includes organist Shirley Scott, bassist George Duvivier and drummer Arthur Edgehill) welcome three immortal tenors (Coleman Hawkins, Arnett Cobb and Buddy Tate) to what became a historic and hard-swinging jam session. On three blues, an original based on the chord changes of 'Sweet Georgia Brown' and 'Lester Leaps In,' the four tenors battle it out and the results are quite exciting. The spirited music on this memorable LP will hopefully be reissued on CD eventually, for the performances live up to their great potential.“ (Scott Yanow)

Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis, tenor saxophone
Buddy Tate, tenor saxophone
Coleman Hawkins, tenor saxophone
Arnett Cobb, tenor saxophone
Shirley Scott, Hammond b-3 organ
George Duvivier, upright bass
Arthur Edgehill, drums

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey on April 29, 1959
Engineered by Rudy Van Gelder
Produced by Esmond Edwards

Digitally remastered

Eddie Lockjaw Davis
Possessor of a cutting and immediately identifiable tough tenor tone, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis could hold his own in a saxophone battle with anyone. Early on, he picked up experience playing with the bands of Cootie Williams (1942-1944), Lucky Millinder, Andy Kirk (1945-1946), and Louis Armstrong. He began heading his own groups from 1946 and Davis' earliest recordings as a leader tended to be explosive R&B affairs with plenty of screaming from his horn; he matched wits successfully with Fats Navarro on one session. Davis was with Count Basie's Orchestra on several occasional (including 1952-1953, 1957, and 1964-1973) and teamed up with Shirley Scott's trio during 1955-1960. During 1960-1962, he collaborated in some exciting performances and recordings with Johnny Griffin, a fellow tenor who was just as combative as Davis. After temporarily retiring to become a booking agent (1963-1964), Davis rejoined Basie. In his later years, Lockjaw often recorded with Harry "Sweets" Edison and he remained a busy soloist up until his death. Through the decades, he recorded as a leader for many labels, including Savoy, Apollo, Roost, King, Roulette, Prestige/Jazzland/Moodsville, RCA, Storyville, MPS, Black & Blue, Spotlite, SteepleChase, Pablo, Muse, and Enja. (Scott Yanow, All Music Guide)

Booklet for Very Saxy