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Eddie Jefferson Godfather of Vocalese Release Date: 1976 03 17 Label: Muse Eddie Jefferson was one of the first to sing lyrics to famous instrumental solos, though his limited, scratchy vocals are hard to listen to at length. This 1976 session, first issued on LP, paired the singer with alto saxophonist Richie Cole, keyboardist Mickey Tucker, trumpeter Waymon Reed, and others. Unfortunately, much of this music sounds badly dated. The choice of electric piano in a reworking of Lester Young's "Lester Leaps In" (with Jefferson's solo being based on James Moody's instrumental version) is a complete misfire. Better is his hip reading of Charlie Parker's "Ornithology." "Keep Walkin'" quickly runs out of gas, a rather sexist blues. "Pinetop's Boogie" adds some variety, with Tucker sounding like he is playing a battered upright piano. The two takes of Herbie Hancock's fusion piece, "Chameleon," are complete throwaways with insipid lyrics to boot, this song is obviously not conducive to vocalese treatment. The CD reissue adds an alternate take of "Chameleon." Ken Dryden, All Music Guide Tracks: Title Composer Time 1 I Got the Blues Jefferson, Young 5:33 2 Workshop (Blues for a Debutante) Fuller, Jefferson 2:57 3 Sherry Jefferson, Crawford 3:20 4 Ornithology Parker, Harris 8:17 5 Keep Walkin' Jefferson, Ferguson 5:38 6 Zap! Carnivorous Jefferson, Hicks, Tucker 6:19 7 Pinetop's Boogie Smith 3:17 8 Chameleon Hancock, Maupin, Jackson, Mason 4:32 9 Chameleon [Alternate Take][*] Hancock, Jackson, Mason, Maupin 5:07 Releases: Year Type Label CD Muse 1990 CD Muse

Member Of: El Rodgers Mystics of Rhythm More >> Similar Artists: Babs Gonzales Joe Lee Wilson Joe Carroll Kenny "Pancho" Hagood King Pleasure More >>

Influenced By: Leo Watson James Moody Cab Calloway Lester Young Coleman Hawkins More >> Followers: Joe Lee Wilson Ward Swingle George V. Johnson, Jr. Spanky Wilson The Last Poets More >>

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