Illinois Jacquet - Birthday Party (1975) {1999 Groove Note 180g} 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip plus Redbook CD Version

was originally released in 1975 on Elec Records and by the Jacquet Record Co. as JRC-11434. It is undoubtedly one of the finest Illinois Jacquet records that has ever been produced. Licensed directly by Analogue Archive from Mr. Jacquet, this is the first reissue on the Groove Note label and the third title in the catalog overall. This is also the first reissue of this title on any format since the album went out of print in 1978. The album was recorded in Japan in 1975. Illinois Jacquet was part of an all star jazz band touring Japan on behalf of Toshiba. Other members of this all star jazz group were Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer, Roy Haynes and Kenny Burrell. The band played an outdoor concert in a baseball stadium during which Jacquet agreed and, one warm night after they had finished one of their scheduled concerts, he gathered some of his fellow jazz musicians and bundled them all into a couple of cabs and headed toward the recording studio. That particular day just happened to be Illinois Jacquet’s Birthday so hence the title of the album and the spectacular cut "Birthday Party Blues". The musicians who showed up to help Illinois celebrate and who all appeared on this album are: Kenny Burrell (guitar), Art Farmer (flugel), Roy Haynes (drums), James Moody (flute & tenor), Gerry Mulligan (baritone sax), Joe Newman (trumpet), Jack Six (bass), and Jimmie Smith (piano). No exaggeration to describe this as one of the most impressive line-ups to appear on a single jazz album. The songs on this album include magnificent performances of "The Shadow of Your Smile" and "Polka Dots and Moon Beams" but the one track that is guaranteed to blow most listeners away is the above mentioned "Birthday Party Blues". An extended eleven minute blues improvisation, this performance also features solos by Mulligan and Art Farmer as well as a lengthy and unforgettable climactic instrumental break by Mr. Jacquet himself. (After listening to this cut, even hardcore classical music listeners have begged for a copy of this album!) This is also a beautifully recorded jazz album with an excellent sense of acoustic space and the spatial relationships between the many instruments as well as an almost perfect tonal balance. (The original 15ips 1/4 inch session tapes were used by Groove Note to master this album.) Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood, the LP was cut on his custom-modified tube-cutting system and the CD was 24-bit mastered using the latest state of the art digital components. Allmusic 2.5/5 stars Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity 5/5 stars

LP track listing

Side One

1. "Ebb Tide" (Robert Maxwell, Carl Sigman) - 4:06
2. "Birthday Party Blues" (Illinois Jacquet) - 10:37
3. "The Shadow of Your Smile" (Johnny Mandel, Paul Francis Webster) - 5:24

Side Two

4. "On the Beach" (Ed Beach, Illinois Jacquet) - 12:59
5. "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" (Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen) - 5:48

45RPM Bonus Disc track listing

Side One

1. "Birthday Party Blues" (Illinois Jacquet) - 10:37

Side Two

2. "The Shadow of Your Smile" (Johnny Mandel, Paul Francis Webster) - 5:24


Released: June 22, 1999
Recorded: 1975 in Japan
Genre: Jazz
Length: 38:54
Label: Groove Note
Producer: Russell Jacquet

Personnel

* Illinois Jacquet - tenor saxophone
* Joe Newman - trumpet
* Art Farmer - flugelhorn
* Jimmie Smith - piano
* Kenny Burrell - guitar
* Jack Six - bass
* Roy Haynes - drums
* Gerry Mulligan - baritone saxophone
* James Moody - tenor saxophone, flute